Prevention of bacterial endocarditis
Article Abstract:
Bacterial endocarditis, infection of the heart lining, has been and continues to be a significant cause of illness and death. It often occurs when the smooth lining of the heart is disrupted by congenital abnormalities, surgical scars, or other alterations such as disease of the heart valves. Disruption of the previously smooth surface allows bacteria to lodge and become a focus of infection. Bacteria may be in the blood transiently following medical, surgical, or dental procedures, and therefore people with known disruptions of the heart lining are usually treated with a high dosage of antibiotics for a brief period of time around such procedures. The American Heart Association (AHA) recently revised the guidelines for such antibiotic prophylaxis and the revision was printed in the December 12, 1990 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Earlier procedure had consisted of parenteral (nonoral) antibiotics given over 48 hours. This was cumbersome and not always followed, and was subsequently thought to be overdosage. The new AHA guidelines are more practical and more in line with those suggested by other groups. Shorter periods of administration and oral dosage are the major changes suggested. The recommendations for normal patients, those unable to take oral medications, low-risk patients, and those allergic to penicillin and who are at high risk are described. Bacterial endocarditis cannot be entirely prevented, and the risk of the prophylactic therapy should not exceed that of possibly incurring endocarditis. It is hoped that physicians and patients will comply with these guidelines. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Archives of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-9926
Year: 1990
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Pefloxacin treatment of meningitis caused by gram-negative bacteria
Article Abstract:
Ten patients with acute meningitis (inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord) caused by a bacteria were treated with pefloxacin antibiotic for an average of 10 days. Eight patients appeared to improve, and the bacteria was eradicated from the cerebrospinal fluid, which circulates within the ventricles of the brain and the spinal cord, in nine out of the 10 patients. Pefloxacin may offer a new, effective and safe treatment for meningitis caused by such bacteria.
Publication Name: Archives of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-9926
Year: 1989
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