title: Antibiotic prophylaxis for lower gastrointestinal endoscopy.
abstract: Bacterial endocarditis is a preventable disease in most patients. It is a potentially fatal disease if left untreated. This article addresses issues related to bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis as related to lower gastrointestinal endoscopy and the recommendations of the American Heart Association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Varma
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology