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Previous Volume 346:782-783 March 7, 2002 Number 10 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: Mylonakis and Calderwood (Nov. 1 issue)¹ cite the increasing use of transesophageal echocardiography in determining the duration of antibiotic therapy for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.² Proponents of this approach contend that clinical assessment alone is inadequate to distinguish patients with endocarditis from those with uncomplicated bacteremia.^2,3,4 However, this new paradigm conflicts with much of the earlier literature.⁵

Transesophageal echocardiography has operationally redefined endocarditis. But does the diagnosis of staphylococcal endocarditis always mandate at least four weeks of treatment with antibiotics? S. aureus endocarditis identifiable exclusively by transesophageal echocardiography may be routinely cured with shorter courses of antibiotics, as . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

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• Pesavento, P. A., Chomel, B. B., Kasten, R. W., McDonald, K. A., Mohr, F. C. (2005). Pathology of Bartonella Endocarditis in Six Dogs. Vet Pathol 42: 370-373 [Abstract] [Full Text]