For UK members

[Paleowoman]

I just read on the BBC news website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30103273 that the incidence of infective endocarditis cases has risen significantly since NICE said to stop giving antibiotics to prevent infective endocarditis in patients due to undergo invasive dental procedures. NICE are going to look at this again. Here's a report from the Lancet: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/la...007-9/fulltext I think I'll insist on antibiotics if I have to have dental work.

 

[Midpack]

Thanks Anne, good info.
And i beleive it may be of interest for everyone, not just for UK members!

 

[epstns]

I sort of "knew" there was a reason my dentist, my cardio and I agreed to continue with prophylactic antibiotics for me, even when guidelines were amended.

 

[Paleowoman]

And i beleive it may be of interest for everyone, not just for UK members!

Yes I suppose it is, I mean it certainly shows the importance of prophylactic antibiotics before dental treatment.

The reason this is of particular importance to UK members is that dentists and doctors here usually follow NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines, which means they have been refusing to give prophylactic antibiotics the past few years and so patients haven't been able to get them.

US members still get prophylactic antibiotics before dental treatment, at least according to the BBC article, US and European guidelines still recommend giving prophylactic antibiotics.

 

[Northernlights]

Thank you for posting this. I do hope they decide it's best to give antibiotics for those most at risk - i.e. with prosthetic valves, as I think they do on the continent. I must admit I have felt a bit vulnerable without them for my bicuspid valve - but then it wasn't diagnosed until I was 50, so I spent all those decades without antibiotic prophylaxis, unbothered!

 

[epstns]

IIRC, the antibiotics before dental work here in the US are now "optional." This means that if doctor, dentist and patient prefer, they may be administered. Perhaps some insurance plans may balk at paying for optional treatments, but the typical meds used are the tried-and-true and are very inexpensive anyway.

 

[river-wear]

Thanks for posting, Anne. Those are sobering statistics that merit more study. The new guidelines here indicate that with a repaired valve, antibiotics aren't required. However, both my surgeon and cardiologist felt strongly that I should continue pre-medicating before getting my teeth cleaned and other procedures that could cause my gums to bleed.

 

[river-wear]

Thanks for posting, Anne. Those are sobering statistics that merit more study. The new guidelines here indicate that with a repaired valve, antibiotics aren't required. However, both my surgeon and cardiologist felt strongly that I should continue pre-medicating before getting my teeth cleaned and other procedures that could cause my gums to bleed.