What is the current advice for people with cardiomyopathy taking antibiotics before dental treatment?
Until quite recently, cardiologists have routinely recommended that people who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with obstruction to outflow from the heart should have antibiotics before dental work. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued new guidelines saying that “antibiotics should no longer be offered before medical and dental procedures unless the procedure is at a site where there is already a suspected infection.”NICE has made this change because it says dental and medical procedures are no longer thought to be the main cause of infection endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart). NICE is also concerned about they risks of taking antibiotics as they may lead to anaphylactic shock (a severe allergic reaction). These guidelines remain controversial among cardiologists. So always discuss the risks and benefits of antibiotics with your specialist and dentist. What is mitral valve prolapse? The mitral valve separates the left atrium and left vent
