Preventive antibiotics are often given to people at risk for infectious endocarditis before dental procedures or surgeries involving the respiratory, urinary, or intestinal tract. The American Heart Association recommends antibiotics before a dental procedure if you have:

• Artificial heart valves
• Certain congenital heart defects, both before or possibly after repair
• History of infective endocarditis
• Valve problems after a heart transplant

Continued medical follow-up is recommended for people with a previous history of infectious endocarditis.

Persons who use intravenous drugs should seek treatment for addiction. If this is not possible, use a new needle for each injection, avoid sharing any injection-related paraphernalia, and use alcohol pads before injecting to reduce risk.