Clinical consideration for infective endocarditis antibiotic prophylaxis

American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines to prevent infective endocarditis recommend the use of antibiotic prophylaxis to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by mitral regurgitation. The syndrome of congestive heart failure is frequently seen with clinical findings similar to those of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but antibiotic prophylaxis is not specifically recommended in the current AHA guidelines for congestive heart failure. Clinicians should be aware of the incidence of valvular abnormalities in congestive heart failure, and other cardiomyopathies, and consider the use of infective endocarditis antibiotic prophylaxis per AHA guidelines.