Reliability of self-reported heart murmur history: possible impact on antibiotic use in dentistry.
Administration of prophylactic antibiotics to a dental patient with a history of heart murmur, rheumatic fever or mitral valve prolapse should be based on a reliable diagnosis of heart valve disease. The authors conducted a study of 68 diabetic patients who reported having these conditions and found that at least 65 percent of these patients actually had no evidence of a pathological heart murmur during two previous physical examinations. They concluded that a self-reported history of heart valve disease should not be the sole criterion for antibiotic premedication.
Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, PA 15261, USA.
J
J
Guggenheimer
T J
TJ
Orchard
P A
PA
Moore
D E
DE
Myers
K M
KM
Rossie
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003729:Dental Care; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006337:Heart Murmurs / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D010808:Physical Examination; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012649:Self Concept