Which patient qualifies for prophylaxis against infective endocarditis?

Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis is recommended for patients with certain high-risk cardiac conditions. A prosthetic mitral valve is considered high risk for developing infective endocarditis because it provides a surface for bacteria to adhere to if they enter the bloodstream, which could occur during certain medical or dental procedures.

Patients with a prosthetic valve, whether it is mitral or aortic, are at increased risk for endocarditis because the foreign material can serve as a focal point for bacterial colonization. Guidelines advise prophylactic antibiotics before procedures that are likely to lead to bacteremia, such as dental extractions or surgeries that may involve manipulation of the respiratory tract or infected skin.

Patients with a history of unrepaired cyanotic heart defects and previous cases of infective endocarditis also warrant prophylaxis due to their similarly high risk. However, they are not the only criteria for prophylaxis. A history of myocardial infarction does not qualify the patient for prophylaxis against infective endocarditis since it doesn't indicate a structural heart condition that predisposes to the infection.

Thus, the patient with a prosthetic mitral valve clearly meets the criteria for prophylactic treatment against infective endocarditis, as it is a recognized risk factor