Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis using moxifloxacin

The conventional treatment of staphylococcal endocarditis requires in-patie nt administration, is inconvenient, and is potentially toxic. Increasing ex perience with well-absorbed, well-tolerated and highly active agents such a s the new quinolones has prompted interest in their use as therapeutic alte rnatives for the treatment of such infections. We describe a case of staphy lococcal endocarditis which failed to respond to conventional therapy, but where the addition of moxifloxacin, an 8-methoxyquinolone, was curative.