Pre-Med Patients

Who should take prophylactic antibiotics?

A large dose of antibiotics one hour prior to a dental procedure is advised for patients with the following conditions:

1. artificial heart valves
2. a history of infective endocarditis
3. 3. certain specific, serious congenital (present from birth) heart conditions, including
   • unrepaired and incompletely repaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including those with palliative shunts and conduits
   • a completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device, whether placed by surgery or by catheter intervention, during the first six months after the procedure
   • any repaired congenital heart defect with residual defect at the site or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or a prosthetic device
4. a cardiac transplant that develops a problem in a heart valve
5. total joint replacement

Dr. Deemer recommends that heart and orthopedic patients contact their physician to see what is right for their specific condition.

For more information, visit http://www.heart.org.