Treatment and Prevention
If a bacterium is causing endocarditis, your doctor will prescribe one or
more antibiotics for 2 to 6 weeks. These antibiotics often have to be given
by intravenous (IV) injection. If a fungus is the cause, an antifungal medication
is given. These must usually be given by IV injection for 6 or more weeks. Heart
surgery is sometimes needed for infective endocarditis, especially for people
with prosthetic heart valves.
Non-infective endocarditis is treated with anticoagulants like warfarin*
that help prevent further clots from developing.
To prevent infective endocarditis - especially if you have some of the risk
factors described above in "Causes" - be sure to let your doctor know.
This is important especially if you need to undergo surgery or dental work.
If you are at a moderate-high risk for endocarditis, you may be prescribed antibiotics
before surgery or dental work to reduce the risk of endocarditis. It is extremely
important to take these antibiotics as directed by your doctor.
Currently, recommended preventative antibiotics for dental procedures include:
- amoxicillin 2 g for adults, or 23 mg per pound of body weight for children, one hour
prior to a dental procedure.
- for adults and children allergic to penicillin, clindamycin 600 mg
for adults, or 9 mg/pound for children, taken by mouth one hour before
procedure. Additional options include clarithromycin 500 mg taken by
mouth one hour before procedure for adults, or clarithromycin 7 mg/pound
taken by mouth one hour before procedure for children.
Other preventative measures include:
- taking proper care of your teeth and gums - the single most important preventive
measure you can take. The mouth is a common source of bacteria that can cause
infection. Good oral hygiene cuts down on the amount of bacteria in the mouth
and body overall.
- watching for signs of bacterial infection if you're experiencing symptoms
of the common cold or influenza (the flu). Early treatment of more minor ailments
can go a long way to reducing the risk of endocarditis.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name
is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®).
The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen).
A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article
lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names,
speak with your doctor or pharmacist.