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<p>Update on the revised 2007 American Heart Association guidelines for prevention of infective endocarditis<br>Lieutenant Andrew C Park, DC, USN and Captain Carol Diener Weber, DC, USN<br><br>The purpose of this clinical update is to present the revised 2007 guidelines by the American Heart Association (AHA) on the prevention of infective endocarditis.<br><br>Background<br>Infective endocarditis (IE) is a microbial infection that is very rare but life-threatening. Despite the advancements in technology to diagnose and treat this disease, it carries a high risk of mortality and morbidity. IE typically occurs in individuals with underlying structural cardiac defects who develop bacteremia with certain organisms known to cause endocarditis. Therefore, primary prevention of IE is very important.<br>Antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of IE has been recommended with various regimens by the American Heart Association (AHA) for more than 50 years. The fundamental principles for the development of such guidelines were: 1) prevention is preferable to treatment of IE; 2) certain cardiac conditions have been associated as risk factors for IE; 3) bacteremia known to cause IE occurs with invasive dental procedures; 4) antibiotic prophylaxis was shown to be effective for prevention of IE in animal studies; and 5) antibiotic prophylaxis was thought to be effective in humans. Based on evolving epidemiological and clinical data, the recommendations for dental prophylaxis have been repeatedly updated. To understand the rationale for the current revision, it is prudent to review the pathogenesis and presentation of IE
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<br>Subjects: American Heart Association; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Bacteremia; Dental Prophylaxis;  Endocarditis; Bacterial; Heart Diseases</div>
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U.S. Navy. Naval Postgraduate Dental School</div>
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