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Retrospective data have suggested that combination antibiotic therapy for severe pneumococcal infection reduces mortality. Investigators recently took a new look at this therapy using prospective data from a multicenter, international, observational study of patients with pneumococcal bacteremia.
Among the 844 consecutive adults with pneumococcal bacteremia enrolled over a 25-month period, 592 met inclusion criteria (antibiotic therapy beginning ≤24 hours after admission, with regimen consistent for the initial 2 days and dose at least the minimum for treating systemic infection). Of these patients, 390 received single antibiotics (monotherapy), and 202 received combinations of antibiotics. Monotherapy involved a β-lactam agent in 43 of the …