UK dentists should give antibiotics to patients at risk of heart infection – study

Nice guidelines advising against antibiotic use for those at risk of infective endocarditis should be reviewed, researchers say

Dentists in the UK should be encouraged to give antibiotics to patients at high risk of life-threatening heart infection before invasive procedures, a study has found.

Research suggests bacteria from the mouth entering the bloodstream during dental treatment could explain 30% to 40% of infective endocarditis cases. The rare but life-threatening condition occurs when the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves become infected.