Antimicrobial prophylaxis against infective endocarditis

The advice in this NICE guideline covers:

Patients who are at risk of infective endocarditis, specifically:

• adults and children with certain problems affecting the structure of the heart (such as a replacement heart valve or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
• adults and children who have previously had infective endocarditis (whether or not they have an underlying cardiac problem)
• people having any of these procedures:

- any dental procedure

- any obstetric or gynaecological procedure, or childbirth

- any procedure on the bladder or urine system

- any procedure on the gullet, stomach or intestines

- any procedure on the airways, including ear, nose and throat procedures and bronchoscopy (a test used to diagnose some lung problems).

It does not specifically look at:

• people at risk of infective endocarditis who do not have heart problems (such as intravenous drug users)
• people having procedures that aren't in the list above

• Other information

  • CG64 Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis: guidance (web format)
  • CG64 Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis: appendices

  How this guidance was produced

  Background information

  • NICE guideline on prophylaxis for infective endocarditis set to change current clinical practice

Guideline formats

• Web format
• Quick reference guide (PDF)
• Full Guideline (PDF)
• Patient version (MS Word)
• CG64 Atal endocarditis heintiol - deall canllawiau NICE (fformat MS Word)

Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis

Guideline for patients and carers (PDF)