A Study of Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Patients with Acute Heart Failure

PATIENTS in congestive heart failure have a tendency to contract pulmonary infections. Conversely, pulmonary infections often precipitate bouts of cardiac decompensation in patients with heart disease. Since it may be exceedingly difficult to differentiate pulmonary congestion from pulmonary infection by physical examination or roentgenography, it has been suggested that antibiotics be administered routinely to all patients with acute episodes of decompensation, either to prevent the occurrence of pneumonia in a particularly susceptible subject or to treat an infection already present.1 , 2 This practice has never been subjected to critical analysis. The observation that antibiotic prophylaxis was unsuccessful in preventing pulmonary infections . . .