Oral foci of infection are of greatest concern in patients with:

Oral foci of infection can be a source of bacteria that can cause infection in other parts of the body, specifically the heart. This can put patients with pre-existing heart conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease, at a higher risk for complications and further damage to their heart. High blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis are all important health conditions, but they do not directly increase the risk of infection from oral foci like rheumatic heart disease does.