Streptococcal endocarditis treated with two-week antibiotic regimen: preliminary report of a partial oral regimen.

We reported 18 consecutive patients with penicillin-sensitive streptococcal IE (infective endocarditis). Twelve were successfully treated with a 2-wk course of penicillin G sodium (PGS) and gentamicin, the dosages of which were guided by minimal inhibitory concentration, minimal bactericidal concentration and serum bactericidal titer (SBT), followed by another six who were treated equally successfully with a one week PGS followed by a second week of amoxycillin together with the usual 2 wks of gentamicin. It is believed that oral therapy, after the initial 2-3 days of parenteral antimicrobial, may be adequate for penicillin-sensitive streptococcal IE.