Don't Use Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior to Dental Procedures for Most Patients

Questions are still coming up about when to use antibiotics before dental procedures in patients with prosthetic joints.

We've been moving away from widely using antibiotics to prevent endocarditis...and saving them for patients with prior endocarditis, artificial valves, some congenital heart diseases, etc. This is due to evidence that prophylaxis usually isn't helpful.

Now there's a move to limit antibiotic prophylaxis in patients who've had a joint replacement...to help ensure judicious antibiotic use.