Congenital Heart Disease

Bacterial Endocarditis

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

Bacterial endocarditis usually can be prevented by taking antibiotics immediately before and after procedures in which bacteria may be released into the bloodstream, such as:

• Dental cleaning
• Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
• Bronchoscopy
• Some surgeries in the respiratory passageways, or the gastrointestinal or urinary tracts
• Gallbladder or prostate surgery

In addition, people at risk for bacterial endocarditis are encouraged to practice good oral hygiene.

Once endocarditis is diagnosed, treatment usually consists of intravenous antibiotics. Recovery may take four to six weeks and there is a risk of permanent heart damage.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated February 6, 2008