Case series evaluates penicillin therapy in subacute bacterial endocarditis, demonstrating clinical potential against penicillin-sensitive streptococcal heart infections.
The present report deals with the use of penicillin in the treatment of 20 cases of subacute bacterial endocarditis. The cases are divided chronologically into 2 groups: (1) a preliminary group of 5 cases treated in the latter part of 1942 and in 1943 and (2) a group of 15 cases treated between January and September 1944. In all instances the infecting organism was a streptococcus of either the viridans or indifferent variety. PART I: CASES TREATED IN 1942 AND 1943 Cases selected for preliminary clinical trial showed the following characteristics: (a) The infection was of relatively short duration, (b) the patients' cardiac status and general condition were comparatively good and (c) the infecting organism was sensitive to penicillin in vitro. All 5 cases represented classic examples of the disease, and the diagnosis was established by several positive blood cultures on
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Martin H. Dawson (1945) studied this question.