Improving oral hygiene to lower the risk of heart infections from bacteria
Official title: Randomized Trial of non-Surgical Therapy and Oral Hygiene Instruction to Reduce Risk of Infective Endocarditis
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11039835 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether improving your oral hygiene, like getting professional dental cleanings and learning better brushing techniques, can help lower the chances of getting a serious heart infection called infective endocarditis, especially for people who already have heart conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | February 14, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,044,701 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3DE031250-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11039835 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with pre-existing heart conditions who are at risk for infective endocarditis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any cardiac conditions or those who do not have issues with oral hygiene may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how better oral hygiene practices can reduce the risk of infective endocarditis (IE), a serious heart infection caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream. The study will involve professional dental cleanings and oral hygiene instructions to see if these interventions can lower the incidence of bacteremia, which is a precursor to IE. By focusing on patients with existing heart conditions, the research aims to provide evidence that could influence clinical guidelines and improve preventive care for at-risk individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved oral hygiene practices that significantly reduce the risk of serious heart infections for patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has suggested a link between oral hygiene and the risk of bacteremia, but this specific approach to improving oral hygiene as a preventive measure for infective endocarditis is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lockhart, Peter B — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Lockhart, Peter B
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.