Table 1:

Cardiac Conditions and Endocarditis Prophylaxis

Endocarditis Prophylaxis Recommended
  • High-Risk Category
    • Prosthetic cardiac valves, including bioprosthetic and homograft valves
    • Previous bacterial endocarditis
    • Complex cyanotic congenital heart disease (eg, single ventricle states, transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot)
    • Surgically constructed systemic-pulmonary shunts or conduits
  • Moderate-Risk Category
    • Congenital cardiac malformations other than those listed in the high-risk and negligible-risk categories
    • Acquired valvular dysfunction (eg, rheumatic heart disease)
    • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
    • Mitral valve prolapse with valvular regurgitation and/or thickened leaflets1
Endocarditis Prophylaxis Not Recommended
  • Negligible-risk category (no greater risk than the general population)
    • Isolated secundum atrial septal defect
    • Surgical repair of atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect or patent ductus arteriosus (without residua beyond six months)
    • Previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery
    • Mitral valve prolapse without valvular regurgitation or thickened leaflets1
    • Physiologic, functional or innocent heart murmur
    • Previous Kawasaki disease without valvular dysfunction
    • Previous rheumatic fever without valvular dysfunction
    • Cardiac pacemakers (intravascular and epicardial) and implanted defibrillators

    

1. Some experts feel that the presence of an audible nonejection click even without a murmur warrants prophylaxis. A detailed discussion is found in reference 1.

Adapted from Dajani AS, Taubert KA, Wilson W, et al. Prevention of bacterial endocarditis. Recommendations by the American Heart Association. JAMA. 1997; 277:1794-1801. Copyrighted 1997, American Medical Association.

Copyright 2002 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

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