Antibiotics before dental surgery could reduce risk of heart infection

The use of antibiotics before invasive dental procedures could be linked to a reduced risk of heart infections in high-risk patients, according to new findings from JAMA Cardiology.

The systematic review and meta-analysis found that antibiotic prophylaxis was associated with a reduced risk of infective endocarditis following dental surgeries in individuals at high risk but not in those at moderate or low risk.

According to the study, “while results from time-trend studies were inconsistent, data from case-control/crossover, cohort and self-controlled case series studies showed that use of antibiotic prophylaxis is associated with reduced risk of infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures in individuals at high risk.”

Read more: JAMA Cardiology

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