Heart Inflammation - Screening and Prevention - Screening and Prevention

Your doctor may recommend steps to prevent bacterial growth on the endocardium in people who have risk factors for endocarditis. These steps may decrease your risk of endocarditis.

• Avoid using illegal intravenous (IV) drugs.
• Practice careful skin hygiene, such as regularly washing your skin and immediately washing any cuts or scrapes to prevent infection.
• Practice good dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing and regular visits to the dentist.
• Take antibiotics before some medical procedures, but only as directed by your doctor.

Many causes of myocarditis and pericarditis are difficult or impossible to avoid or prevent. Controlling risk factors for diseases such as HIV and avoiding substances such as amphetamines and cocaine may decrease your risk for myocarditis.

• Diagnosis will explain tests and procedures that your doctor may use to diagnose types of heart inflammation.
• Living With will discuss what your doctor may recommend to prevent your endocarditis, myocarditis, or pericarditis from recurring, getting worse, or causing complications.
• Research for Your Health will explain how we are using current research and advancing research to prevent endocarditis, myocarditis, and pericarditis.