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Cardiac complications in children with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia
I R Friedland1, J du Plessis, A Cilliers
1Department of Pediatrics, Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Journal of Pediatrics
|November 1, 1995
Summary
Echocardiography detected clinically silent endocarditis in 11% of children hospitalized with staphylococcal bacteremia. This imaging is recommended for pediatric staphylococcemia cases, even with other apparent infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Staphylococcal bacteremia is a serious infection in children.
- Cardiac complications, such as endocarditis, can occur but may be clinically silent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of subclinical endocarditis and pericarditis in children with staphylococcal bacteremia using echocardiography.
- To assess the utility of echocardiography in diagnosing cardiac involvement in pediatric staphylococcal infections.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 36 hospitalized children with staphylococcal bacteremia.
- Echocardiographic examination was performed on all participants.
- Clinical data and underlying cardiac conditions were reviewed.
Main Results:
- Clinically silent endocarditis was identified in 4 (11%) of the children.
- Pericarditis was detected in two additional children.
- Only one child had a pre-existing cardiac condition (patent ductus arteriosus).
Conclusions:
- Echocardiography is a valuable tool for detecting clinically silent endocarditis in pediatric patients with staphylococcal bacteremia.
- Routine echocardiography should be considered in children with staphylococcemia, irrespective of apparent extracardiac infection sources.