To the Editor: The title of the editorial by Ashrafian and Bogle¹ was clear enough, but the editorial was not.

The representative cardiological bodies in UK, USA and Europe have all published guidelines on the prevention of infective endocarditis (IE). Their guidance is clear. The guidance from the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy² on the other hand carries with it a feeling of self-righteousness, but its position is not rational.

The science of endocarditis is clear …