1 December 2008

The National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) has produced a new patient information leaflet for people at risk of developing infective endocarditis, an infection of the heart.

‘Preventing infections of the heart’, which has been endorsed by The Australian Dental Association, Therapeutic Guidelines and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, explains recent changes to therapeutic guidelines in easy to understand language.

“The revised guidelines, published in July this year, recommend only people with some heart conditions need to take antibiotics before some types of dental work or surgery. People who have taken antibiotics in the past to prevent infections of the heart may not need to take them in the future, depending on the type of heart condition they have. The guidelines have changed because research shows that antibiotics are not always needed to prevent infective endocarditis,” NPS Executive Manager of Quality Use of Medicines Programs, Karen Kaye, said.

“This patient information leaflet explains how the advice about using antibiotics has changed and discusses the heart conditions and procedures that will still require antibiotics.”

Infective endocarditis is an infection of the heart values or the lining of the heart and is caused by bacteria from the mouth or body entering the bloodstream and settling on the heart values. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream during some types of dental work or surgery, and so antibiotics are sometimes used to help prevent infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis is very rare, but is more common in people with damaged or artificial heart valves.

People who have a heart condition should always tell their doctor or dentist before undergoing any treatment. For more information ask your dentist, doctor or pharmacist.

The infective endocarditis patient information leaflet is available at:

www.nps.org.au/health_professionals/patient_resources/patient_leaflets

ENDS

For independent information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines, consumers can call Medicines Line on 1300 888 763 to talk to a pharmacist between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday, Eastern Standard Time (EST) for the cost of a local call (mobile calls may cost more).

The National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.