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Infective endocarditis prophylaxis — NDEB AFK MCQ

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EasyBiomedical SciencesInfective endocarditis prophylaxisNDEB AFK

A 48-year-old with a prosthetic cardiac valve is scheduled for scaling and root planing. The procedure will manipulate gingival tissues and the patient has no drug allergies. What is the most appropriate treatment?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: D — Give single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis before treatment

CDA guidance supports antibiotic prophylaxis for patients at greatest risk, including those with prosthetic cardiac valves, before dental procedures involving gingival manipulation. A prolonged postoperative course is not the recommended prophylaxis strategy. The pearl is that prophylaxis is risk- and procedure-specific, not based simply on the presence of any cardiac history.

Reference: CDA Position on Prevention of Infective Endocarditis, revised 2024