PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS PROPHYLAXIS: A REPORT FROM SOUTHERN IRAN

We determined the knowledge of parents of 200 pediatric patients for bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis (BEP ), using an eight question survey pertaining to their knowledge of their child's cardiac disease, medications, and BEP. The patient's cardiac lesion and current medications were verified at the time of admission for diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterization. Each patient's need for BEP was determined according to American Heart Association (AHA) recommendations. Eighty-one respondents (40-5%) were high school graduates. Only 12 parents (6%) correctly defmed endocarditis. One-hundred and fifty-eight parents (77%) knew the name or condition of their child's cardiac problem, one-hundred (50%) of the families had knowledge of BEP, and only 46 parents (23%) knew that antibiotics are needed for prophylaxis at the time of dental procedures. It is concluded that while most parents know the name of their child's heart lesion and current medications, their knowledge of endocarditis and BEP is limited, and for prevention of such a major complication for pediatric patients with heart diseases, intensified education and awareness programs are needed.