Ceftriaxone once daily for four weeks compared with ceftriaxone plus gentamicin once daily for two weeks for treatment of endocarditis due to penicillin-susceptible streptococci. Endocarditis Treatment Consortium Group.
This randomized, multicenter, open-label study compared the efficacy and safety of monotherapy with 2 g of intravenous ceftriaxone once daily for 4 weeks with those of combination therapy with 2 g of intravenous ceftriaxone and 3 mg of intravenous gentamicin/kg once daily for 2 weeks as therapy for endocarditis due to penicillin-susceptible streptococci. Sixty-one patients were enrolled in the study. Clinical cure was observed for 51 evaluable patients both at termination of therapy and at the 3-month follow-up: 25 (96.2%) of 26 monotherapy recipients and 24 (96%) of 25 combination therapy recipients. Of the 23 patients in each treatment group who were microbiologically evaluable, 22 (95.7%) in each group were considered cured. No patient had evidence of relapse. Fourteen patients (27.5%) required cardiac surgery after initiation of treatment, including five monotherapy recipients and nine combination therapy recipients. Adverse effects were minimal in both treatment groups. We conclude that 2 g of ceftriaxone once daily for 4 weeks and 2 g of ceftriaxone in combination with 3 mg of gentamicin/kg once daily for 2 weeks are both effective and safe for the treatment of streptococcal endocarditis.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Streptococcus
- Streptococcal Infections
- Penicillins
- Middle Aged
- Microbiology
- Humans
- Gentamicins
- Endocarditis, Bacterial
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Cephalosporins
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Streptococcus
- Streptococcal Infections
- Penicillins
- Middle Aged
- Microbiology
- Humans
- Gentamicins
- Endocarditis, Bacterial
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Cephalosporins