Guide To Managing Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Preventative Antibiotics

Patients with patent ductus arteriosus are at an increased risk of a heart infection known as endocarditis. To reduce the risk of developing this infection, preventative antibiotics are sometimes indicated. Current guidelines recommend antibiotics be prescribed for the first six months after a patient has a catheter procedure. They are also advised for patients who have heart damage after a catheter procedure or other repair, and individuals who have had previous heart infections need them as well. In the past, doctors advised patients with patent ductus arteriosus to take preventative antibiotics before having dental work or invasive medical procedures. However, these guidelines were recently revised, and doctors now only recommend the antibiotics in the situations described above.

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