title: Prevention of infective endocarditis in the pediatric congenital heart population.
abstract: In 1997, the American Heart Association updated recommendations for the prevention of sub-acute bacterial endocarditis (SBE) or infective endocarditis (IE) occurring in the pediatric population with congenital heart disease (Dajani, et al., 1997). Although uncommon, endocarditis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children with cardiovascular disease, which constitutes the primary population at risk. Through comprehensive discharge planning and teaching, the advanced practice nurse (APN) and the pediatric cardiovascular nurse may contribute significantly toward preventing IE in this population. Nursing's role and responsibility is to convey the appropriate information to patients, families, and the staff who care for children with heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiac Med/Surg Unit, Deborah Heart & Lung Center, Browns Mills, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Estlow
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors