Overview
Introduction
Infective endocarditis prophylaxis is a targeted intervention, not an antibiotic routinely attached to every dental procedure.
Infective endocarditis prophylaxis is a targeted intervention, not an antibiotic routinely attached to every dental procedure. In Canada, the Canadian Dental Association and provincial dental and dental-hygiene guidance follow the current AHA restricted-prophylaxis approach. The decision has two gates: the patient must have an AHA-defined highest-risk cardiac condition, and the dental procedure must involve the tissue manipulation that produces the relevant bacteremia. If either gate is absent, prophylaxis is not indicated solely to prevent IE. If both are present, one correctly selected dose is given before the procedure.\n\nA patient with unexplained fever, a new murmur, embolic findings, heart failure, or persistent positive blood cultures requires a different response: investigate for established IE rather than self-starting or reflexively prescribing a prophylactic dose.