RT Journal
A1 Andriole VT
T1 STaphylococci and combination therapy
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1979
FD October 1
VO 139
IS 10
SP 1090
OP 1091
DO 10.1001/archinte.1979.03630470012005
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1979.03630470012005
AB Optimal antimicrobial therapy for severe infections " caused by Staphylococcus aureus, ie, bacteremia or endocarditis, is currently controversial. In this issue of the Archives (see p 1094), data are presented that address one aspect of this extremely important problem. The major thrust of the reported observations suggests that the serum of most patients with staphylococcal bacteremia has more killing power (increased serum bactericidal activity) against the patient's own staphylococcal pathogen when treatment with a penicillinase-resistant penicillin was combined with gentamicin sulfate as compared to the serum bactericidal activity in the same patient treated with a penicillinase-resistant penicillin alone. In contrast, serum inhibitory activity was only slightly improved by the addition of gentamicin to a penicillinase-resistant penicillin. The author concludes that the addition of gentamicin to penicillinase-resistant penicillin therapy results in marked improvement in patient serum bactericidal activity against the infecting Staphylococcus and suggests that combination therapy should be considered in any