Open AccessInfluence of gentamicin dose size on the efficacies of combinations of gentamicin and penicillin in experimental streptomycin-resistant enterococcal endocarditis
Author(s) -
Alan J. Wright,
Walter R. Wilson,
J Y Matsumoto,
John A. Washington,
Joseph E. Geraci
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.22.6.972
Subject(s) - gentamicin , streptomycin , penicillin , endocarditis , medicine , procaine , aminoglycoside , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , pharmacology , surgery , biology
We have evaluated the benefits of low versus high doses of gentamicin combined with procaine penicillin (1.2 X 10(6) U three times daily) in the treatment of streptomycin-resistant experimental enterococcal endocarditis in rabbits. The mean peak serum gentamicin concentration in animals treated with low-dose gentamicin (0.75 mg/kg three times daily) was 3.06 micrograms/ml (range, 2.1 to 4.2 micrograms/ml), and it was 8.05 micrograms/ml (range, 4.5 to 16.1 micrograms/ml) in animals treated with high-dose gentamicin (2 mg/kg three times daily). The mean log10 colony-forming units of enterococci per gram of cardiac valve vegetation in animals treated with procaine penicillin combined with low- or high-dose gentamicin were 2.4 +/- 1.2 and 1.4 +/- 1.3, respectively (P = not significant) after 3 days of treatment and 1.7 +/- 1.2 and 1.7 +/- 1.5, respectively (P = not significant), after 5 days of therapy. The median peak serum bactericidal titer was 1:8 in animals treated with low- or high-dose gentamicin. We detected no significant difference between low- or high-dose gentamicin combined with procaine penicillin in the efficacy of treatment of streptomycin-resistant experimental enterococcal endocarditis.