Staphylococcus aureus sepsis in childhood malignancy

Forty-five episodes of Staphylococcus aureus septicemia occurred in 44 children with malignant neoplasms over a seven-year period. The frequent findings at diagnosis were fever, neutropenia, and an active malignant process. Twenty-six (58%) of 45 episodes had a primary focus of infection. Multiple-organism sepsis occurred four times; three episodes were fatal. Only one patient with single-organism S aureus sepsis died (a mortality of 2%). Direct infectious complications occurred in nine (20%) of 45 episodes. Endocarditis and osteomyelitis were not seen as complications of S aureus sepsis.