“Tolerance” implies that staphylococci are inhibited by
a drug but not killed by it—that is, there is great difference
between minimal inhibitory and minimal lethal
concentrations of an antimicrobial drug. Patients with
endocarditis caused by a tolerant S aureus may have a
prolonged clinical course compared with patients who
have endocarditis caused by a fully susceptible S aureus.
Tolerance can at times be attributed to lack of activation
of autolytic enzymes in the cell wall.