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Free access | 10.1172/JCI107622
Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
Find articles by Durack, D. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
Find articles by Pelletier, L. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
Find articles by Petersdorf, R. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Published March 1, 1974 - More info
Bacterial endocarditis was produced by intravenous injection of Streptococcus viridans into rabbits with preexisting sterile endocardial vegetations. After 6 h had elapsed, bacteria in the vegetations could not be eradicated by brief treatment with antimicrobials to which the streptococci were sensitive. However, when treatment with penicillin was continued for 4 days, the animals were cured. The 6-h infection therefore offered a model in which treatments could be conveniently compared over a short period. Synergism was demonstrated between penicillin and streptomycin in endocarditis due to a fully penicillin-sensitive streptococcus, a point which had not been previously proved in vivo. The clinical implications are discussed.