What do I need to know about reducing my risk?

Information for the public

If you are at increased risk of infective endocarditis, your healthcare professional should give you information about how to prevent it, including:

the benefits and risks of antibiotics and why antibiotics are not usually recommended to prevent infective endocarditis
the importance of always looking after your teeth and gums
symptoms to look out for that might be caused by infective endocarditis and when to seek expert advice
the need to tell any medical expert you seek advice from about any recent invasive dental treatment you have had
the risks of having any kind of procedure that involves piercing the skin, including things like body piercing or tattooing as well as medical procedures.