Antibiotic prophylaxis and immune-compromised patients

Abstract

On the basis of the arguments found in the literature for and against prescribing antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures in immunecompromised patients, dental care providers are advised not to prescribe antibiotic prophylaxis to this group of patients when they undergo dental treatment, unless it concerns an exceptional case. Such cases comprise immune-compromised patients considered to have a high risk of developing systemic infections when undergoing invasive dental procedures, including extractions or implant placement. These are patients with, for example, severe neutropenia, patients with a primary immune deficiency, or patients who use high doses of immunosuppressants or very strong immunosuppressants. There is little evidence in the literature about the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for this specific group of patients. Such evidence is, however, also difficult to obtain because it concerns a small group of patients.