To the Editor:—
The report on a case of bacterial endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by McDonald, Rhoads, and Knapp (J. A. M. A.167:1490-1493 [July 19] 1958), is of great interest. We cannot subscribe, however, to the authors' opinion about the outcome being invariably fatal. In contradistinction to the 10 cases summarized in the paper, the treatment of which proved unsuccessful, though only two were observed after the advent of antibiotics, we had the opportunity to record a case in which there was full recovery (Gottsegen and Romoda, Samml. seltener klin. Fälle 13:115-120, 1957). Subacute endocarditis in a young man with rheumatic mitral stenosis and regurgitation began with a long period of freedom from bacteremia. Antibiotics (penicillin, streptomycin, and chloramphenicol) failed to show any effect on fever and hematuria. At last, blood and urine cultures became positive for Ps. aeruginosa; on the basis of favorable experiences in