May 6, 2007, the American Heart Association no longer recommends routine antibiotics before certain dental and surgical procedures to help prevent bacterial infection except for patients at the highest risk which includes patients with heart transplants, prosthetic cardiac valves, prior bacterial infections and patients with specific congenital heart diesease, i.e. a patch covering a hole in the heart wall.

Interesting. I went to see my doctor about a week ago for a routine check up and he suggested that I take an antibiotic before dental work for mild mitral valve regurgitation. Guess I don't have to fill that prescription now. I don't like taking antibiotics anyway.

Thanks for the info.

Antibiotics are now the new pariah because doctor's overprescribing antiobiotics for VIRAL infections and meatr processors getting huge amounts of antibiotics into the food chain have caused an unnecessary outbreak of antibiotic resistant strains of deadly bacteria.

This new head in the sand approach that basically says "oh that's probably a viral infection" or "most people don;t get infections from dental work", with no good facts or expensive cultures to back up either old saw will invaribly kill people.

IF a dentist cuts into your gum he exposes your bloodstream to any pathogens that are in your mouth...if that pathogen lodges in your heart and grows it is deadly serious bacterial endocarditis or pericarditis that a few people actually on this board have reported getting.

I called my MD and asked for penicillin-K for a deep scaling of my dental roots...I have a stent. He said he didn't think I needed anything. I took it from my old stash. I finally fired my doctor.

It's noble of doctors to try to undo decades of their errors :rolleyes: but not at the cost of patients' health. I GUARANTEE that a doctor in the AHA with a bad heart facing gumwork WILL take an antibiotic for himself, probably amoxillin.

My experience with "probably viral": I suffered with an almost annually recurring pneumonia/bronchitis with a painful cough for about 8 weeks before dragging myself to my doctor and getting the AVERAGE diagnosis..."Usually this is viral"...no smear, no culture just a diagnosis by AVERAGE. Since I was spitting up green and black goom I KNEW it was more than "just a virus." I went home furious and a neighbor gave me a Z-pack (three high dose azithromycin meant for a 3 pill total course of antibiotics.)
I was CURED within 36 hours.
<If I want a diagnosis by AVERAGE, I could look it up myself.>

Yes, most people will NOT get bacterial endocarditis from dental work. Those that DO stand a good chance of dying. If there's BLOOD and the environment isn't sterile, there's risk...mouths aren't sterile.
I think the AHA is all wet on this "proclamation."

ACA/AHA doesn't mandate, but sets forth guidelines, and if not followed are grounds for a lawsuit in the event of any serious repercussions...there is oversight! One can self-medicate and refuse medication i.e. plavix :) but a doctor can't be held liable for their patients' behavior; exception may be a nitwit who can't understand and requires special attention and proper supervision.

It would be wise for a patient to inform the doctor of the recent research results and have them make a decision.

I doubt very much a medical proclamation would go unheeded by a medical MD with AHA. Doesn't make sense. Would this member go to his dentist and say he took an antiboitic because he doesn't trust his own judgement? Let the general population believe our findings, but they are fools if they believe it.;)