Antibiotics for heart valve disease

Examples

The following antibiotics are used individually or in combination.

Preventive antibiotics for endocarditis

Generic Name	Brand Name
amoxicillin	Amoxil, Larotid
ampicillin	Marcillin, Principen
gentamicin sulfate	Garamycin

Preventive antibiotics for endocarditis (if you are allergic to penicillin)

Generic Name	Brand Name
	azithromycin
cefazolin	Ancef
cephalexin	Biocef, Keflex
clarithromycin	Biaxin
	clindamycin
vancomycin	Vancocin

Preventive antibiotics for rheumatic fever

Generic Name
benzathine
penicillin g
penicillin v
sulfadiazine

Preventive antibiotics for rheumatic fever (if you are allergic to penicillin)

Generic Name	Brand Name
azithromycin	Zithromax
erythromycin	E-Mycin

How It Works

Antibiotics kill bacteria.

Why It Is Used

Antibiotics in valve disease are generally used to lower the risk of endocarditis and rheumatic fever. These conditions can result in a worsening of valve problems.

Many heart conditions put people at risk for endocarditis. But if you have certain heart conditions, getting endocarditis is even more dangerous for you. These heart conditions include:

• Artificial heart valves.
• Endocarditis in the past.
• Heart defects since birth (congenital heart defects).
• Heart valve problems after a heart transplant.

If you have any of these heart conditions, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics before you have certain dental or surgical procedures, to prevent endocarditis.

How Well It Works

Antibiotics have been shown to reduce the risk of endocarditis and rheumatic fever.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of antibiotics include:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Mild allergic reactions including skin rash, fever, and sometimes difficulty breathing.

A recent large study indicates that people who take erythromycin along with certain common medications may increase their risk of sudden cardiac death.¹ The study showed that the risk of sudden cardiac death is greater when erythromycin is taken with some medications that inhibit certain liver enzymes—such as certain calcium channel blockers, certain antifungal medications, and some antidepressants—than when these medications are not taken together.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Your doctor will decide on the best antibiotics for you based on the level of your risk and any allergies to antibiotics that you may have.

People who receive gentamicin sulfate or vancomycin may develop hearing loss and kidney damage. Kidney damage usually clears up once the medications are stopped.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW	Last Updated March 31, 2006
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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