Sandbox endocarditis

Empirical Antibiotic Therapy

• Although antibiotic therapy for subacute disease can be delayed till the result of blood culture, the rapid progression of acute cases necessitate the start of empirical treatment antibiotic therapy once the blood cultures have been collected.

• Empirical therapy is needed for all likely pathogens, certain antibiotic agents, including aminoglycosides, is preferably avoided for its toxic effects.

• Clinical course of infection beside the epidemiological features should be considered upon selecting empirical treatment regimen.

• Consultation with an infectious disease specialist for the selection of one of the following antibiotic regimens is recommended.

Regimen	Dosage and Route	Duration(wk)
	Native valve
Ampicillin sulbactam	12 g per 24 h IV in 4 equally divided doses	4–6
	plus
Gentamicin sulfate	3 mg per kg per 24 h IV/IM in 3 equally divided doses	4–6
	or
Vancomycin	30 mg per kg per 24 h IV in 2 equally divided doses	4–6
	plus
Gentamicin sulfate	3 mg per kg per 24 h IV/IM in 3 equally divided doses	4–6
	plus
Ciprofloxacin	1000 mg per 24 h PO or 800 mg per 24 h IV in 2 equally divided doses	4–6
	→Pediatric dose: Ampicillin sulbactam 300 mg per kg per 24 h IV in 4–6 equally divided doses Gentamicin 3 mg per kg per 24 h IV/IM in 3 equally divided doses Vancomycin 40 mg per kg per 24 h in 2 or 3 equally divided doses Ciprofloxacin 20–30 mg per kg per 24 h IV/PO in 2 equally divided doses
	Prosthetic valve (early, ≤ 1y)
Vancomycin	30 mg per kg per 24 h IV in 2 equally divided doses	6
	plus
Gentamicin sulfate	3 mg per kg per 24 h IV/IM in 3 equally divided doses	2
	plus
Cefepime	6 g per 24 h IV in 3 equally divided doses	6
	plus
Rifampin	900 mg per 24 h PO/IV in 3 equally divided doses	6
	→Pediatric dose: Vancomycin 40 mg per kg per 24 h IV in 2 or 3equally divided doses Gentamicin 3 mg per kg per 24 h IV/IM in 3 equally divided doses Cefepime 150 mg per kg per 24 h IV in 3 equally divided doses Rifampin 20 mg per kg per 24 h PO/IV in 3 equally divided doses
	Prosthetic valve (late—greater than 1 y)	Same regimens as listed above for native valve endocarditis
	Suspected Bartonella, culture negative
Ceftriaxone sodium	2 g per 24 h IV/IM in 1 dose	6
	plus
Gentamicin sulfate	3 mg per kg per 24 h IV/IM in 3 equally divided doses	2
	with/without
Doxycycline	200 mg per kg per 24 h IV/PO in 2 equally divided doses	6
	Documented Bartonella, culture positive
Doxycycline	200 mg per 24 h IV or PO in 2 equally divided doses	6
	plus
Gentamicin sulfate	3 mg per kg per 24 h IV/IM in 3 equally divided doses	2
	→Pediatric dose: Ceftriaxone 100 mg per kg per 24 h IV/IM once daily Gentamicin 3 mg per kg per 24 h IV/IM in 3 equally divided doses Doxycycline 2–4 mg per kg per 24 h IV/PO in 2 equally divided doses Rifampin 20 mg per kg per 24 h PO/IV in 2 equally divided doses

Treatment Based Upon Infectious Agent

Penicillin-Susceptible Strep Viridans and Other Nonenterococcal Streptococci

Penicillin G

• If Minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] <0.2 µg/ml.
• Dose: 12–18 million units I.V. daily in divided doses q. 4 hour for 4 weeks.

Penicillin G + Gentamicin

• Dose: Penicillin G, 12–18 million units I.V. daily in divided doses q. 4 hour for 4 weeks plus gentamicin, 3 mg/kg I.M. or I.V. daily in divided doses q. 8 hour for 2 weeks (peak serum concentration should be ~ 3 µg/ml and trough concentrations < 1 µg/ml).

Ceftriaxone

• Dose: 2 g I.V. daily as a single dose for 2 weeks.