title: Antibiotic treatment of infective endocarditis.
abstract: At least 85% of patients with infective endocarditis can be cured with effective therapy. Streptococci or staphylococci cause 75% of cases of endocarditis. Patients with penicillin-sensitive viridans or nonenterococcal group D streptococcal endocarditis may be treated successfully with aqueous penicillin G alone for four weeks or with combined penicillin and streptomycin for two weeks. Enterococcal endocarditis should be treated for four to six weeks with a combination of aqueous penicillin G together with either streptomycin or gentamicin. Patients with endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus should receive antimicrobial therapy for four to six weeks with a semisynthetic penicillin (nafcillin or oxacillin) or a cephalosporin such as cephalothin or cefazolin. In urgent cases where empiric antimicrobial therapy is necessary before the causative organism is identified, a combination of aqueous penicillin G, nafcillin, and gentamicin is effective therapy.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D013307:Streptomycin