Pathogenesis, management, and prevention of infective endocarditis in the elderly dental patient.

Aortic stenosis and mitral valve insufficiency are common precipitating causes of infectious endocarditis in older persons. These degenerative cardiac valvular lesions may result from an exaggerated calcification process seen in association with aging. Mitral valve prolapse, especially when noted in an older man, may predispose the person to infectious endocarditis. Infectious endocarditis is harder to diagnosis and treat in older persons, and about half of patients die of the disease or its complications. Prophylactic antibiotics must be prescribed for patients with degenerative cardiac or atherosclerotic valvular defects having dental procedures likely to produce a bacteremia.