Prescription practices of antibiotic prophylaxis among patients at high risk of infective endocarditis

Introduction: Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for patients considered in high risk of infective endocarditis (i.e., patients with prior infective endocarditis, heart valve prosthesis, and certain congenital heart diseases). Methods: This study investigated prescription patterns and prescription filling patterns of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients at high risk of infective endocarditis. Prescription and prescription filling were evaluated by examination of patients records and an unselected patient cohort using Danish nationwide registries, respectively. Results: Approximately 50 % of the patients were prescribed relevant antibiotic prophylaxis but not all filled their prescription. Conclusion: Compliance with guidelines by Danish clinicians is only approximately 50 % and not all the patients fill their prescription. Clearly, there is room for improvement – an improvement which has the potential to reduce the incidence of infective endocarditis