Vancomycin-aminoglycoside combinations in therapy of endocarditis caused by Enterococcus species and Streptococcus bovis.

Between 1974 and 1986, five patients with enterococcal endocarditis (three of whom had a prosthetic valve) and three patients with Streptococcus bovis endocarditis were treated with a combination of vancomycin and an aminoglycoside for a mean duration of 40 days. This regimen was prescribed because of allergy to beta-lactam (n = 7) and/or failure of previous treatment (n = 4). Three of the eight patients underwent valve replacement. In the six evaluable patients cure was achieved with the vancomycin-aminoglycoside combination. An increase of the creatinine serum levels was observed in all cases but it was never necessary to discontinue treatment, adjustment of the vancomycin and aminoglycoside dosage according to the serum and/or serum creatinine levels allowing continuation of therapy.