Infective endocarditis is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening illness. Traditionally, antibiotic prophylaxis has been given routinely before dental and other procedures to patients with cardiac conditions associated with an increased risk of infective endocarditis. However, endocarditis after dental or other procedures is rare and it is not clear that such antibiotic prophylaxis is effective in preventing endocarditis since no randomised controlled studies have been performed in “at-risk” individuals.