Bacteremia Associated With Oral Surgery: A Review

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Bacterial endocarditis is a serious infection with significant morbidity and mortality.
• Prevalence is 2-8 cases per 100,000 individuals annually, affecting older populations.
• Bacteremia following oral surgery is a critical concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review literature on bacteremia after oral surgery.
• To assess the controversy surrounding antibiotic prophylaxis before oral surgery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of publications from 1976 to 2015.
• Inclusion of clinical studies focusing on oral surgery as the cause of bacteremia.
• Evaluation of 32 studies involving 3564 cases and 12,839 blood cultures.

Main Results:

• Amoxicillin's usefulness was studied in 10 of the reviewed studies.
• Antimicrobial prophylaxis before invasive dental procedures does not prevent bacteremia.
• Prophylaxis can decrease the magnitude and persistence of bacteremia.

Conclusions:

• Conflicting data highlights the need for new research approaches.
• Reliable evidence is required for appropriate prophylactic and therapeutic standards.
• Results on bacteremia after dental procedures remain inconsistent.