title: Enterococcal bacteremia: analysis of 75 episodes.
abstract: Seventy-five cases of enterococcal bacteremia were analyzed retrospectively. Most patients had serious underlying disease and blood cultures became positive on an average of 27 days after admission. Polymicrobial bacteremia occurred in one-third of the patients. Twenty-two (30%) of the patients died during hospitalization; nine of these deaths were directly due to enterococcal bacteremia. Metastatic infections occurred in seven patients, including five with endocarditis. More than 40% of the patients were receiving antibiotic therapy at the time of bacteremia; cephalosporins were being administered to 56% of these. Thirty-eight patients were treated with two antibiotics. The commonest regimen was ampicillin and gentamicin; 90% of these patients responded. Eighteen patients were treated with only one antibiotic; 89% of these patients responded. Nineteen patients received no antibiotic therapy; the majority of these patients responded despite lack of therapy. Two-drug regimens are not always required for the treatment of enterococcal bacteremia, and treatment must be tailored to the particular clinical situation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Disease, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gullberg
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Homann
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Phair
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents