Final answer:
Endocarditis prophylaxis with antibiotics is recommended for individuals with certain cardiac conditions, particularly for dental and surgical procedures that pose an infection risk. Specific antibiotics are used based on whether the endocarditis is acute or involves a prosthetic valve.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibiotic prophylaxis for endocarditis is recommended for individuals with high-risk conditions undergoing certain procedures. Prophylaxis is generally given to patients with prosthetic heart valves, a history of endocarditis, congenital heart defects, or heart transplant recipients with valvulopathy when they undergo dental procedures, surgeries involving the respiratory tract, infected skin, or musculoskeletal tissue.
Individuals at higher risk for endocarditis include those with preexisting heart damage, prosthetic valves, and a history of rheumatic fever. Treatment typically involves high doses of intravenous antibiotics based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing. For endocarditis treatment, antibiotics like ampicillin, nafcillin, and gentamicin are used synergistically to cover Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species in acute cases; whereas, for prosthetic-valve endocarditis, vancomycin, rifampin, and gentamicin are typically prescribed.