Common knowledge regarding prevention of infective endocarditis among general dentists in Japan

Infective endocarditis (IE) is known as a life-threatening disease, with bacteremia-inducing dental procedures considered to be one of the major factors. Thus, prevention of IE onset with antibiotics is widely recommended. Guidelines composed in the USA for prevention and treatment are well known, while the Japanese Circulation Society recently presented their own guidelines. On the other hand, there are few studies of the general knowledge of dentists regarding IE prevention.

Questionnaires were distributed by postal mail to dentists who graduated from the Osaka University Faculty of Dentistry. Those with special backgrounds, such as oral surgeons, anesthesiologists, and orthodontists, were excluded. We analyzed a total of 159 questionnaires that were returned by the owners and staff of private dental clinics throughout Japan, whose careers as dentists ranged from 5 to 53 years. Approximately 90% reported encountering fewer than several patients at risk for IE per year and only 40% of the respondents were aware of the guidelines for its prevention. Furthermore, only 23 dentists reported the use of amoxicillin for prevention of IE, with diverse dosages and timing noted.

These findings suggest that promotion of guidelines for prevention of IE to general dentists is important, although the frequency of cases encountered by general dentists is extremely low.