'Usual and customary' practice versus the recommendations of experts: clinician noncompliance in the prevention of bacterial endocarditis.

Data were collected from a representative sample of American general practitioners to ascertain adherence to the recommendations by the American Heart Association (AHA) concerning management of patients at risk for bacterial endocarditis. Inconsistencies were found in the prescribing of appropriate risk-related therapies such as proper timing, selection of antibiotics, and associated dosages. It is suggested that clinicians' compliance level with these recommendations may be raised by a careful reading of the AHA's latest findings.