Oral microflora as a cause of endocarditis and other distant site infections

Bacteremia originating from the oral cavity is common, but the role of bact eremia in the genesis of infective endocarditis and other distant site infe ctions is unclear. Only a small percentage of oral flora have been associat ed with distant site infection. Import;tnt issues remain unresolved concern ing the identification of patients at risk, the relative risk from invasive dental procedures versus naturally occurring bacteremia, and the impact of prophylactic antibiotics on the incidence, nature, magnitude, and duration of bacteremia from the oral cavity. This article addresses the controversi es in infection management in patients at risk for distant site infection.