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European Heart Journal 1995 16(5):687-691;
Copyright © 1995 by the European Society of Cardiology.
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© 1995 The European Society of Cardiology

Treatment with various antibiotics of experimental endocarditis caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus sanguis

F. MARTINEZ*,{dagger}, F. MARTIN-LUENGO*,{ddagger}, A. GARCIA{ddagger},§ and M. VALDÉS{ddagger},§,

*Departments of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia E-30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
{dagger}Departments of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Murcia E-30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
{ddagger}Departments of Microbiology, University of Murcia General Hospital E-30003 Murcia, Spain
§Departments of Cardiology Services, University of Murcia General Hospital E-30003 Murcia, Spain

revised 8 August 1994; accepted 5 September 1994.

Correspondence: Dr Mariano Valdés FACP, FACC, Avenida de la Constitución 4, 2-C. 30008 Murcia, Spain.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus sanguis currently accounts for one-half of viridans streptococci. Treatment has become complicated due to the increase in resistance to penicillin and cephalosporins. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of various antibiotics as monotherapy and in association with gentamicin, in a experimental model of infective endocarditis in rabbits. The effects were compared with a control group and a group given classical penicillin-gentamicin treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Infective endocarditis was induced in 180 rabbits with a clinical isolate of Streptococcus sanguis. Treatment was started 48 h after infection, and lasted 5 days. The animals were divided into nine groups of 20 rabbits: Gl, untreated controls; G2, penicillin-gentamicin; G3, clindamycin-gentamicin; G4, imipenem; G5, imipenemgentamicin; G6, teicoplanin; G7, teicoplanin-gentamicin; G8, vancomycin and G9, vancomycin-gentamicin. Response to therapy was evaluated by mortality curves, as negative blood cultures, concentration of S. sanguis in aortic vegetations and rate of sterilization of vegetations.

RESULTS: Vegetation weight was significantly lower in treated groups than in controls; lower weights were found in G5, 6, and 9. G9 sterilized 75% of the vegetations. Death occurred in 25% of the control group and in 4– 76% of G6 and 7. Blood cultures became negative most rapidly in G9.

CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment with vancomycin-gentamicin may be highly efficacious in patients with endocarditis caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus sanguis. Other combinations, such as imipenem-gentamicin and teicoplanin-gentamicin, may be also advantageous.

Key Words: Experimental endocarditis • Streptococcus sanguis penicillin-resistant • treatment


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