Antibiotic Premedication Interpretation Guideline Updated for Cardiac Conditions
The College has updated its Interpretation Guideline on antibiotic premedication for cardiac conditions in order to encompass recommendations from two key resource publications with greater clarity. Registrants should be aware of the following updates pertaining to clients with cardiac conditions:
- Congenital heart defects that have been completely repaired with prosthetic material or devices (whether placed by surgery or catheter intervention) have returned to the list of conditions for which antibiotic prophylaxis is indicated for the first six months following the medical procedure. This recommendation was previously removed from the Interpretation Guideline following a 2017 joint publication by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. However, upon further consultation, the American Heart Association has stated that prophylaxis is recommended for such cases because endothelialisation of the prosthetic material occurs within six months after the procedure.
- Coronary artery stents have been added to the list of conditions for which antibiotic prophylactic coverage is currently contra-indicated. The College periodically receives questions about this and therefore, took the opportunity to clarify within in its Interpretation Guideline. This information aligns with the recommendations that have been published by the American Heart Association.
Registrants have a responsibility to use current knowledge in their practice and remain abreast of updates in clinical practice guidelines that impact client care. The College’s complete Interpretation Guideline on antibiotic premedication for cardiac conditions can be found here.
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Social Media Interpretation Guidelines
The use of social media is expanding rapidly, blurring the boundaries between public and private space. Social media has changed the way dental hygienists communicate with their clients and other health care professionals.
This brings in a new dimension on how the CDHBC Code of Ethics applies to these growing online formats. Expectations of professional and ethical conduct are the same whether dental hygienists are interacting in person, or online through social media. Dental hygienists should be vigilant in avoiding online situations that may be harmful to clients and detrimental to their own credibility and reputation. It is the registrant’s responsibility to ensure content posted on social media aligns with the CDHBC Interpretation Guidelines on Social Media.
Please click here for the new Interpretation Guidelines on Social Media.
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