Short-course antibiotic therapy for right-sided endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in injection drug users.

Authors

DiNubile MJ 

Institution

Cooper Hospital University Medical Center, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden.

Source

Ann Intern Med 1994 Dec 1; 121(11) :873-6.

Abstract

Right-sided endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent complication of injection drug use. Fortunately, the prognosis for this infection when treated with the standard regimen of 4 to 6 weeks of parenteral antistaphylococcal antibiotics is favorable. Nevertheless, in many cases, once drug users feel better, they leave the hospital against medical advice before completing the full course of antibiotic therapy. This problem has stimulated interest in shortening the duration of antibiotic to a penicillinase-resistant penicillin. Data from in vitro synergy studies and animal models of endocarditis suggest that S. aureus can be eradicated more quickly by combination therapy than by monotherapy. Reports of three prospective, nonrandomized clinical trials have been published that support the use of a 2-week course of a penicillinase-resistant penicillin and an aminoglycoside antibiotic to treat uncomplicated, exclusively right-sided endocarditis caused by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus in injection drug users.

Mesh

Aminoglycosides
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Clinical Trials as Topic
Drug Therapy, Combination
Endocarditis, Bacterial
Humans
Penicillinase
Penicillins
Staphylococcal Infections
Substance Abuse, Intravenous

Language

eng

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article Review

PubMed ID

7978701