What are the standard treatments for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis involving a native valve or other native cardiac tissue?
The usually accepted current standard of care for methicillin-susceptible S aureus endocarditis involving a native valve or other native cardiac tissue includes a semisynthetic, -lactamase resistant penicillin (nafcillin or oxacillin) given intravenously for a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks, assuming there has been an appropriate microbiological and clinical response to therapy. The addition of gentamicin for the first 3 to 5 days is an option and may accelerate the killing of the staphylococci, but this concept is based on extrapolation from experimental models.