[An increase of infective endocarditis cases in England seen with concomitant reduction in antibiotic prophylaxis since the implementation of NICE guidelines in 2008: possible explanations]. / Aumento dei casi di endocardite batterica in Inghilterra e concomitante riduzione della profilassi antibiotica a seguito dell'attuazione delle linee guida NICE del 2008. Possibili spiegazioni.

Dayer and colleagues recently reported in The Lancet an increased incidence of infective endocarditis in England since 2008, year of NICE guideline on the restriction of antibiotic prophylaxis. They observed a concomitant decrease in the use of antibiotic prophylaxis. The temporal link between reduction of prophylaxis prescribing and increase of infective endocarditis raises the question of whether there is a causal association. In view of this observation, should we rethink antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infective endocarditis?