title: Rifampin treatment of prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Staphylococcus epidermidis.
abstract: Twenty-three patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis were studied retrospectively for assessment of the role of rifampin treatment. Rifampin (900-1,200 mg daily) was administered in combination with either vancomycin or a beta-lactam antibiotic for an average of 38 days. Eight patients also received an aminoglycoside. Infection was cured in 16 (70%) of these patients; i.e., in 13 (87%) of 15 receiving rifampin plus vancomycin and in three (38%) of eight receiving rifampin plus a beta-lactam antibiotic (P = .025). The addition of rifampin to vancomycin regimens resulted in an increase in serum bactericidal activity. The selection of rifampin-resistant strains of S. epidermidis during treatment with a combination of antibiotics was noted in two patients with persistent infection. The rates of cure obtained with rifampin-beta-lactam combinations were similar to those obtained with beta-lactam agents alone; however, the cure rates obtained with rifampin plus vancomycin (with or without an aminoglycoside) were encouraging and merit further study.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008712:Methicillin; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin; D008712:Methicillin; D012293:Rifampin