[Relationship between odontogenic infections and infective endocarditis]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Dentistry
• Infectious Diseases

Context:

• Recent guidelines from national and international associations have updated recommendations for preventing infective endocarditis.
• The indiscriminate use of antibiotic prophylaxis for routine dental procedures is no longer supported.
• However, antibiotic prophylaxis is still recommended for high-risk patients undergoing dental procedures with a bleeding risk.

Purpose:

• To review current concepts of odontogenically-induced bacteremia.
• To outline contemporary approaches to antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing dental treatment.
• To discuss the evolving landscape of infective endocarditis prevention strategies.

Summary:

• The prevalence of bacteremia from daily oral activities like brushing is high, making complete prevention of infective endocarditis from oral microorganisms unlikely.
• Maintaining good oral health and hygiene is crucial for healthy individuals to manage the systemic spread of oral microorganisms.
• Prophylactic antibiotics remain essential for susceptible or medically compromised patients undergoing dental procedures.

Impact:

• This review provides clarity on the appropriate use of antibiotic prophylaxis in dental settings, balancing prevention with the risk of overuse.
• It emphasizes the importance of individualized risk assessment for patients undergoing dental procedures.
• The findings support evidence-based practice in managing infective endocarditis risk associated with dental treatments.