High-dose oral amoxycillin in the treatment of infective endocarditis.
Oral antibiotic therapy for infective endocarditis is not yet widely accepted. A study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of oral amoxycillin in this condition. Fifteen patients were treated with high-dose oral amoxycillin for 6 weeks. Twelve responded to treatment and remain well at 3 years. There were 3 deaths--1 at day 7 due to sudden aortic cusp rupture, and 2 late deaths due to pulmonary and cerebral embolism respectively. There was 1 relapse of streptococcal prosthetic valve endocarditis 8 weeks after oral treatment, but this responded to conventional intravenous therapy. Oral amoxycillin is effective in uncomplicated streptococcal endocarditis, and should not be used with prosthetic valve infections.
Chetty
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S
Cardiac Unit, Wentworth Hospital.
Mitha
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AS
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans
D000658:Amoxicillin