Antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis after normal delivery--is it necessary?

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
During the years 1959 to 1978 inclusive 2165 women with rheumatic or congenital heart disease had vaginal deliveries at three large Dublin maternity hospitals. There were two (0.09%) cases of puerperal infective endocarditis, neither of which was unequivocally related to preceding childbirth during this period. Routine peripartum antibiotic prophylaxis was not given to either. A questionnaire of the practice of 19 obstetricians in Ireland showed that 12 (63%) gave antibiotics routinely during labour and after delivery in cardiac patients, five (26%) did not, and two (11%) used them occasionally. Peripheral vein blood was drawn serially from 0 to 30 minutes after vaginal delivery to determine the incidence of asymptomatic puerperal bacteraemia. A total of 299 cultures was obtained from 83 normal women and single blood cultures were positive in three women (3.6% of patients, 1.0% of cultures). A review of the published reports showed that well-documented cases of infective endocarditis and of asymptomatic puerperal bacteraemia after normal vaginal delivery are uncommon. There is evidence that antibiotic prophylaxis may increase the risk of developing antibiotic-resistant endocarditis. Recommended prophylactic regimens carry a considerable risk of drug toxicity. These facts, coupled with a lack of direct evidence in support of the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis, suggest that routine peripartum antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated.

This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit: