Start practicing

Medical Emergencies · single question

A patient reports an innocent/functional heart murmur with no structural high-risk cardiac condition. Regarding antibiotic prophylaxis before invasive dental treatment:

  1. Prophylaxis is NOT indicated
  2. Prophylaxis is always required for any murmur
  3. Prophylaxis is required only if the patient is over 50
  4. A double dose of amoxicillin is required
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Prophylaxis is NOT indicated

  • A. Correct. AHA guidelines restrict prophylaxis to specific high-risk conditions (prosthetic valve, prior infective endocarditis, certain congenital heart disease, transplant valvulopathy). A simple murmur is not one of them.
  • B. Incorrect. Most murmurs (especially innocent ones) do not warrant prophylaxis under current guidelines.
  • C. Incorrect. Age is not the criterion; the specific cardiac condition is.
  • D. Incorrect. There is no indication for prophylaxis here, let alone a doubled dose.

Practice Medical Emergencies questions Medical Emergencies study notes

More Medical Emergencies practice questions