Endocarditis - Preventing endocarditis

If you have an increased risk of developing endocarditis, it is important that you limit your exposure to any infection that could trigger it.

The same is true if you have previously been affected by endocarditis, because the condition can often reoccur in certain people.

Practise good oral hygiene

If you are at increased risk of developing endocarditis, it is important that you practise good oral and dental hygiene.

Do not let abscesses and gum disease go untreated.

You should visit your dentist on a regular basis to ensure that you maintain good oral health and to minimise the risk of bacteria entering your bloodstream through your mouth.

Take care of your skin

Regularly washing your skin with an antibacterial soap will help to lower your risk of developing a skin infection. It is also very important to wash any cuts or grazes carefully as soon as you notice them to prevent them becoming infected.

Contact your GP for advice if you develop the symptoms of a skin infection (see below). Your GP may prescribe antibiotics as a precaution. Symptoms of a skin infection include:

redness and inflammation (swelling) of the affected area of skin
the skin feels tender and warm to the touch
a discharge of pus or fluid from the affected area of skin

A skin infection may also make you feel generally unwell, leading to symptoms such as:

a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
feeling sick
shivering
chills

You should also avoid any cosmetic procedure that involves breaking the skin, such as body piercing and tattooing.

The role of antibiotics

Before 2008, antibiotics were routinely prescribed as a precautionary measure to people with an increased risk of endocarditis, before they underwent routine invasive medical procedures such as:

dental treatment
childbirth
a bronchoscopy (where a thin, flexible tube with a small camera at the end is used to examine the inside of your throat)

However, antibiotics are no longer prescribed in these situations because research has found that the benefits of antibiotics in preventing endocarditis are outweighed by the risks that the antibiotics will cause serious side effects.

For example, it is estimated that somebody with a prosthetic heart valve has a one in 500,000 chance of developing a fatal case of endocarditis after routine dental treatment. In comparison, the risk of experiencing a fatal allergic reaction after taking an antibiotic, while still very low, is only one in 100,000.

Also, antibiotics should only be used when absolutely necessary. Each time antibiotics are used, the chances that bacteria will become resistant to them are increased.

As a result of this, antibiotics will only be used if you are having a medical procedure at a site in your body where there is a suspected infection, such as in your gullet, stomach or intestines, or in your reproductive or urinary system.

Abscesses: An abscess is a lump containing pus, which is made by the body during infection.
Antibiotics: Antibiotics are medicines that can be used to treat infections caused by micro-organisms, usually bacteria or fungi. For example amoxicillin, streptomycin and erythromycin.
Antiseptic: Antiseptic is a substance that reduces the growth and development of germs.
Bacteria: Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that live in the body. Some can cause illness and disease and some others are good for you.
Bladder: The bladder is a small organ near the pelvis that holds urine until it is ready to be passed from the body.
Blood: Blood supplies oxygen to the body and removes carbon dioxide. It is pumped around the body by the heart.
Heart valve: Heart valves are four sets of flaps that control the direction that blood pumps around the heart.