[Value of rifampin in the treatment of staphylococcal septicemia]

Analysis of 20 cases of staphylococcal septicemia, observed over 1 1/2 months in a general hospital, confirms that these infections are frequent and severe. They occurred in compromised hosts and were nosocomial infections in 2/3 of cases. An intravenous device (particularly a central venous catheter) was associated with 70% of staphylococcal septicemia. Study of bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics and clinical course leads to advocate that high risk patients with fever be initially given rifampin combined with netilmicin.