Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The infecting pathogen and its susceptibility to antibiotics is used to suggest prognosis in endocarditis. A case study was performed in a tertiary referral cardiology centre to assess the contribution of the measurement of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to the decision to treat endocarditis surgically. The records were examined of 125 patients admitted between 1981 and 1999 in whom the minimum inhibitory concentration for the pathogen had been measured. The measures of outcome were mortality at time of hospital discharge and at 6 months, surgical referral and cure by medical treatment. Endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus with a raised MIC of flucloxacillin (methicillin) was associated with higher mortality even if glycopeptides were used in treatment (< or = 35 mg/l 0/7 versus MIC 1-2 mg/l 4/13, P = 0.01). Elevated MICs of flucloxacillin in S. aureus infection or of gentamicin in streptococcal disease were associated with surgical intervention. There were no significant differences between bacterial pathogens in mortality, surgical referral or cure by medical treatment. The measurement of MIC appears prognostically important in deciding the surgical management of endocarditis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2003.08.012

Type

Journal article

Journal

Int J Antimicrob Agents

Publication Date

04/2004

Volume

23

Pages

394 - 397

Keywords

Anti-Bacterial Agents, Endocarditis, Bacterial, Female, Gentamicins, Gram-Positive Cocci, Humans, Male, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Middle Aged, Penicillins, Predictive Value of Tests, Staphylococcal Infections, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcal Infections, Streptococcus