MICROCOCCAL BACTEREMIA WITHOUT ENDOCARDITIS: CLINICAL DATA AND THERAPEUTIC CONSIDERATIONS IN 109 CASES

Abstract

A study was made of the records in 109 cases of micrococcal bacteremia without endocarditis encountered at the Mayo Clinic during a period of 16.5 years. The bacteremia was associated with an underlying disease or followed operation in 95 of these cases. The most common surgical procedure to be followed by micrococcal bacteremia was transurethral prostatic resection. A variety of sulf onamides and antibiotics were used in treatment. A total of 72 of these patients recovered from the bacteremia. Despite an increase in the incidence of strains of micrococci resistant to multiple antibiotics, the results of treatment of this condition with appropriate antibiotic agents usually have been satisfactory unless serious underlying disease has been present. No antibiotic represents an automatically prescribed panacea for micrococcal bacteremia.