Risks for and prevention of infective endocarditis

Early childhood caries in preschool children of Kosovo - a serious public health problem

Background

Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a serious public health problem, especially in countries where there is no national program of oral health assessment and no genuine primary oral health care, such as in Kosovo. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of ECC and analyze caries risk factors.

Methods

The subjects were 1,008 preschool children, selected by stratified random cluster sampling, in the municipality of Prishtina, capital of Kosovo. Data were collected through clinical examination and interviews. Dmft data were recorded according to WHO criteria. Bacterial examination (CRT bacteria test) and plaque test of Greene-Vermillion were used.

Results

The mean dmft of preschool children was found to be 5.8. The prevalence of ECC was 17.36%, with a mean dmft of 11 ± 3.6. Streptococcus mutans prevalence in ECC children was 98%. A significant correlation between dmft and S mutans counts (≥10⁵ CFU/mL saliva) was demonstrated. A correlation was also found between daily sweets consumption and dmft in children with ECC (P < 0.001). Comparing the dmft of ECC children and duration of bottle feeding showed a statistical correlation (P < 0.001). The mean plaque test was 1.52. None of the examined children had ever used fluoride.

Conclusion

The prevalence of ECC was high among preschool children in the municipality of Kosovo. We recommend increasing parents' knowledge of proper feeding habits and oral health practices, and increasing preschool children's accessibility to dental services.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis leading to valve replacement: a case study

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a pathologic condition of native or prosthetic heart valves or endocardium, which may result in valve destruction and congestive heart failure. It occurs more frequently in men than in women, and there is an increased trend in the elderly. The following conditions predispose patients to IE: congenital and rheumatic heart disease, calcification or stenosis of a valve, prosthetic valve surgery, a previous episode of endocarditis, poor dentition, parenteral drug abuse, and placement of intravascular lines or devices. Effective treatment frequently involves a combination of intense antibiotic therapy and surgical repair. Risk of death from IE is related to age over 60, diagnosis of staphylococcal infection, involvement of an aortic or prosthetic valve, and the presence of any of the following sequelae of endocarditis: congestive heart failure, embolic phenomenon, and neurologic deficit. Clinicians should suspect endocarditis in patients presenting with fever of unknown origin and who are at risk for endocarditis. Timely evaluation with transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography may identify patients in the early stages of endocarditis and direct the patient to definitive therapy. Early treatment of native and prosthetic valve endocarditis may decrease its overall morbidity and mortality. This case study illustrates some of the challenges in effectively managing prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Prevention of bacterial endocarditis. Recommendations by the American Heart Association

OBJECTIVE

To update recommendations issued by the American Heart Association last published in 1990 for the prevention of bacterial endocarditis in individuals at risk for this disease.

PARTICIPANTS

An ad hoc writing group appointed by the American Heart Association for their expertise in endocarditis and treatment with liaison members representing the American Dental Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

EVIDENCE

The recommendations in this article reflect analyses of relevant literature regarding procedure-related endocarditis, in vitro susceptibility data of pathogens causing endocarditis, results of prophylactic studies in animal models of endocarditis, and retrospective analyses of human endocarditis cases in terms of antibiotic prophylaxis usage patterns and apparent prophylaxis failures. MEDLINE database searches from 1936 through 1996 were done using the root words endocarditis, bacteremia, and antibiotic prophylaxis. Recommendations in this document fall into evidence level III of the US Preventive Services Task Force categories of evidence.

CONSENSUS PROCESS

The recommendations were formulated by the writing group after specific therapeutic regimens were discussed. The consensus statement was subsequently reviewed by outside experts not affiliated with the writing group and by the Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee of the American Heart Association. These guidelines are meant to aid practitioners but are not intended as the standard of care or as a substitute for clinical judgment.

CONCLUSIONS

Major changes in the updated recommendations include the following: (1) emphasis that most cases of endocarditis are not attributable to an invasive procedure; (2) cardiac conditions are stratified into high-, moderate-, and negligible-risk categories based on potential outcome if endocarditis develops; (3) procedures that may cause bacteremia and for which prophylaxis is recommended are more clearly specified; (4) an algorithm was developed to more clearly define when prophylaxis is recommended for patients with mitral valve prolapse; (5) for oral or dental procedures the initial amoxicillin dose is reduced to 2 g, a follow-up antibiotic dose is no longer recommended, erythromycin is no longer recommended for penicillin-allergic individuals, but clindamycin and other alternatives are offered; and (6) for gastrointestinal or genitourinary procedures, the prophylactic regimens have been simplified. These changes were instituted to more clearly define when prophylaxis is or is not recommended, improve practitioner and patient compliance, reduce cost and potential gastrointestinal adverse effects, and approach more uniform worldwide recommendations.