Skip to main content
Log in

Value of the serum bactericidal test in management of patients with bacterial endocarditis

  • Reviews
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A review is given of the available clinical data on the prognostic value of the serum bactericidal test in the treatment of patients with bacterial endocarditis. It is concluded that the test, even when performed in a standardized manner, does not provide useful information for the majority of patients with bacterial endocarditis. Until further clinical data are available, routine performance of the test in patients with bacterial endocarditis is not recommended.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Schlichter, J. G., MacLean, H.: A method of determining the effective therapeutic level in the treatment of subacute bacterial endocarditis with penicillin: a preliminary report. American Heart Journal 1947, 34: 209–211.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fisher, A. M.: A method for the determination of antibacterial potency of serum during therapy of acute infections. A preliminary report. Bulletin of the Johns Hopkins Hospital 1952, 90: 313–320.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Coleman, D. L., Horwitz, R. I., Andriole, V. T.: Association between serum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations and therapeutic outcome in bacterial endocarditis. American Journal of Medicine 1982, 73: 260–267.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Geraci, J. E.: The antibiotic therapy of bacterial endocarditis. Medical Clinics of North America 1958, 42: 1101–1140.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Mandell, G. L., Sande, M. A.: Some newer aspects of infective endocarditis. Geriatics 1975, 30: 97–102.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Scheld, W. M., Sande, M. A.: Endocarditis and intravascular infections. In: Mandell, G. L., Douglas, R. G., Bennett, J. E. (ed.): Principles and practice of infectious diseases. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1979, p. 653–690.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Carrizosa, J., Kaye, D.: Antibiotic concentrations in serum, serum bactericidal activity and results of therapy of streptococcal endocarditis in rabbits. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1977, 12: 479–483.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bisno, A. L., Dismukes, W. E., Durack, D. T., Kaplan, E. L., Katchmer, A. W., Kaye, D., Sande, M. A., Sanford, J. P., Wilson, W. R.: AHA Committee Report. Treatment of infective endocarditis due to viridans streptococci. Circulation 1981, 63: 730A.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bryan, C. S., Marney, S. R., Alford, R. H., Bryant, R. E.: Gram-negative bacillary endocarditis: interpretation of the serum bactericidal test. American Journal of Medicine 1975, 58: 209–215.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Wilson, W. R., Geraci, J. E.: Antibiotic treatment of infective endocarditis. Annual Review of Medicine 1983, 34: 413–427.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Wilson, W. R., Jaumin, P. M., Danielson, G. K., Giuliani, E. R., Washington, J. A., Geraci, J. E.: Prosthetic valve endocarditis. Annals of Internal Medicine 1975, 82: 751–756.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kaye, D., Hewett, W., Remington, J. S., Turck, M.: Cefazolin andStaphylococcus aureus endocarditis. Journal of the American Medical Association 1977, 237: 2601.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Archer, G. L., Fekety, F. R.: Experimental endocarditis due toPseudomonas aeruginosa. II. Therapy with carbenicillin and gentamicin. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1977, 136: 327–335.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Fass, R. J.: Laboratory tests for defining bactericidal activity as predictors of antibiotic efficacy in the treatment of endocarditis due toStaphylococcus aureus in rabbits. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1984, 149: 904–912.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Weinstein, M. P., Stratton, C. W., Ackley, A., Hawley, H. B., Robinson, P. A., Fisher, B. D., Alcid, D. V., Stephens, D. S., Reller, B. L.: Multicenter collaborative evaluation of a standardized bactericidal test as a prognostic indicator in infective endocarditis. American Journal of Medicine 1985, 78: 262–269.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Reyes, M. P., Pallutke, W. A., Wylin, R. F., Lerner, A. M.: Pseudomonas endocarditis in the Detroit Medical Center 1969–1972. Medicine 1973, 52: 173–194.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Geraci, J. E., Martin, W. J.: Antibiotic therapy of bactericidal endocarditis. Circulation 1954, 10: 173–194.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Jawetz, E., Brainerd, H. D.: Staphylococcal endocarditis. American Journal of Medicine 1962, 32: 17–24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Quinn, E. L., Colville, J. M.: Subacute bacterial endocarditis. New England Journal of Medicine 1961, 264: 835–842.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Blount, J. G.: Bacterial endocarditis. American Journal of Medicine 1965, 38: 909–922.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Watanakunakorn, C.:Streptococcus bovis endocarditis. American Journal of Medicine 1974, 56: 256–260.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Witchitz, S., Gilbert, C., Witchitz, J., Gougerot, M., Vachon, F., Vic-Dupont, V.: Pseudomonas endocarditis. A report of nine cases. European Journal of Cardiology 1976, 4: 91–97.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Mills, J., Drew, D.:Serratia marcescens endocarditis: a regional illness associated with intravenous drug abuse. Annals of Internal Medicine 1976, 84: 29–35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Reyes, M. P., Brown, W. J., Lerner, A. M.: Treatment of patients with pseudomonas endocarditis with high dose aminoglycoside and carbenicillin therapy. Medicine 1978, 57: 57–67.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Chunn, C. J., Jones, S. R., McCutchan, J. A., Young, E. J., Gilbert, D. N.:Haemophilus parainfluenzae infective endocarditis. Medicine 1977, 56: 99–114.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Malacoff, R. F., Frank, E., Andriole, V. T.: Streptococcal endocarditis (nonenterococcal, non group A). Single vs combination therapy. Journal of the American Medical Association 1979, 241: 1807–1810.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ellner, J. J., Rosenthal, M. S., Lerner, P. I., McHenry, M. C.: Infective endocarditis caused by slow-growing, fastidious, gram-negative bacteria. Medicine 1979, 58: 145–158.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Cooper, R., Mills, J.: Serratia endocarditis. A follow-up report. Archives of Internal Medicine 1980, 140: 199–202.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Goldman, L., Feinstein, A. R.: Anticoagulants and myocardial infarction. The problems of pooling, drowning, and floating. Annals of Internal Medicine 1979, 90: 92–94.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Reller, L. B., Stratton, C. W.: Serum dilution test of bactericidal activity. II. Standardization and correlation with antimicrobial assays and susceptibility tests. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1977, 136: 196–204.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Root, R. K., Isturiz, R., Molavi, A., Metcalf, J. A., Malech, H. L.: Interactions between antibiotics and human neutrophils in the killing of staphylococci. Journal of Clinical Investigation 1981, 67: 247–259.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Pien, F. D., Vosti, K. L.: Variation in performance of the serum bactericidal test. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1974, 6: 330–333.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Weksler, B. B., Nachman, R. L.: Rabbit platelet bactericidal protein. Journal of Experimental Medicine 1971, 134: 1114–1130.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mellors, J.W., Coleman, D.L. & Andriole, V.T. Value of the serum bactericidal test in management of patients with bacterial endocarditis. Eur. J, Clin. Microbiol. 5, 67–70 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013472

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013472

Keywords

Navigation