Background Antibiotic prophylaxis of patients believed to be at a risk of developing infective endocarditis has been recently revisited with limited indications compared with the previous body of knowledge in use by the medical community. As a consequence, most of the healthcare specialists in cardiology and infectious diseases have doubts related to the enormous change that has been proposed. In this study, we report the results of an Italian consensus of experts in cardiology and infectious diseases, with the aim to offer a national document that illustrates the reasons for such a change through the review of the basis of infective endocarditis prophylaxis, the historical background, and the reasons for the change, providing practical conclusions and illustrating grey areas. Methods The main guidelines published on the topic of antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis were discussed as well as the risk of anaphylaxis. Overall, the group agreed that the evidence for prophylaxis is weak and limited to few case-control studies, expert opinion, clinical experience, and descriptive studies. Results The 'downgrading' of the indications for prophylaxis is mainly due to a cultural change and a more critical attitude towards available published data. Although the group acknowledge the critical view of the previously published guidelines, it seems to be more practical to consider the issue of prophylaxis without the evidence required by guidelines but rather as a consensus document based on the available data. Conclusion Contemporary guidelines on infective endocarditis prophylaxis challenge previous recommendations based on a low level of evidence. The main recommendation of the study group is to underline that prophylaxis may often be based on adequate education without the administration of antibiotics, which only remains suggested, following the usual practice, in patients with heart diseases, when the risk of a complicated prognosis following infective endocarditis may be anticipated. J Cardiovasc Med 11:419-425 (C) 2010 Italian Federation of Cardiology.

The prophylaxis of infective endocarditis: a joint position study of the Italian Federation of Cardiologists and the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases / Enrico, Cecchi; Francesco G., De Rosa; Fabio, Chirillo; Enzo, Petrelli; Giuseppe, Oreto; Fredy, Suter; Rocco, Lagioia; Pierluigi, Viale; Francesco, Enia; Matteo, Bassetti; Venditti, Mario; Nicola, Petrosillo; Riccardo, Utili; Massimo, Imazio; Rita, Trinchero. - In: JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE. - ISSN 1558-2027. - STAMPA. - 11:6(2010), pp. 419-425. [10.2459/jcm.0b013e328333927c]

The prophylaxis of infective endocarditis: a joint position study of the Italian Federation of Cardiologists and the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases

VENDITTI, Mario;
2010

Abstract

Background Antibiotic prophylaxis of patients believed to be at a risk of developing infective endocarditis has been recently revisited with limited indications compared with the previous body of knowledge in use by the medical community. As a consequence, most of the healthcare specialists in cardiology and infectious diseases have doubts related to the enormous change that has been proposed. In this study, we report the results of an Italian consensus of experts in cardiology and infectious diseases, with the aim to offer a national document that illustrates the reasons for such a change through the review of the basis of infective endocarditis prophylaxis, the historical background, and the reasons for the change, providing practical conclusions and illustrating grey areas. Methods The main guidelines published on the topic of antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis were discussed as well as the risk of anaphylaxis. Overall, the group agreed that the evidence for prophylaxis is weak and limited to few case-control studies, expert opinion, clinical experience, and descriptive studies. Results The 'downgrading' of the indications for prophylaxis is mainly due to a cultural change and a more critical attitude towards available published data. Although the group acknowledge the critical view of the previously published guidelines, it seems to be more practical to consider the issue of prophylaxis without the evidence required by guidelines but rather as a consensus document based on the available data. Conclusion Contemporary guidelines on infective endocarditis prophylaxis challenge previous recommendations based on a low level of evidence. The main recommendation of the study group is to underline that prophylaxis may often be based on adequate education without the administration of antibiotics, which only remains suggested, following the usual practice, in patients with heart diseases, when the risk of a complicated prognosis following infective endocarditis may be anticipated. J Cardiovasc Med 11:419-425 (C) 2010 Italian Federation of Cardiology.
2010
infective endocarditis; prevention; prophylaxis
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
The prophylaxis of infective endocarditis: a joint position study of the Italian Federation of Cardiologists and the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases / Enrico, Cecchi; Francesco G., De Rosa; Fabio, Chirillo; Enzo, Petrelli; Giuseppe, Oreto; Fredy, Suter; Rocco, Lagioia; Pierluigi, Viale; Francesco, Enia; Matteo, Bassetti; Venditti, Mario; Nicola, Petrosillo; Riccardo, Utili; Massimo, Imazio; Rita, Trinchero. - In: JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE. - ISSN 1558-2027. - STAMPA. - 11:6(2010), pp. 419-425. [10.2459/jcm.0b013e328333927c]
File allegati a questo prodotto
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/418483
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 5
social impact