Antibiotics for heart valve disease

Examples

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The following antibiotics are used individually or in combination.

Preventive antibiotics for endocarditis

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Larotid	amoxicillin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Principen	ampicillin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Garamycin	gentamicin sulfate

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

Chemical Name

azithromycin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Ancef	cefazolin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Keflex	cephalexin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Biaxin	clarithromycin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Biaxin	clindamycin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Vancocin	vancomycin

Preventive antibiotics for rheumatic fever

Chemical Name

benzathine

Chemical Name

penicillin g

Chemical Name

penicillin v

Chemical Name

sulfadiazine

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

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Zithromax	azithromycin

Brand Name	Chemical Name
E-Mycin	erythromycin

How It Works

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Antibiotics kill bacteria.

Why It Is Used

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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

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

Side Effects

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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

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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.

References

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Citations

1. Ray WA, et al. (2004). Oral erythromycin and the risk of sudden death from cardiac causes. New England Journal of Medicine, 351(11): 1089–1096.

Credits

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Author	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
Last Updated	March 31, 2006