Prevention of Endocarditis

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If you have a high risk of endocarditis because of a damaged heart valve or other medical problem, your doctor and dentist should be informed. Certain procedures, such as dental treatment , where the gums bleed leading to the temporary presence of bacteria in the blood. To prevent endocarditis, antibiotics should be given one to two hours before a procedure, including dentistry, and up to eight hours afterward. Before a dental procedure, an antiseptic mouth rinse also may be used. Other common procedures where antibiotics are advised include: endoscopy (an investigation of the stomach; colonoscopy (an investigation of the bowel); cystoscopy (an investigation of the bladder).

Misusing IV drugs (injecting street drugs) should always be avoided.