Antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures

Patients at risk of developing infective endocarditis or infection of a prosthetic joint may require antibiotic prophylaxis during dental treatment. Current guidelines recommend prophylaxis less often than in the past. This is because of concerns about antimicrobial resistance and an increased understanding about the daily incidence of bacteraemia. There is international variation in the recommendations for preventing infective endocarditis so Australian health professionals should consult Australian guidelines. Conditions for which prophylaxis is still recommended include prosthetic heart valves and rheumatic heart disease in patients at high risk of endocarditis. Most experts no longer recommend antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures in patients with prosthetic joints.