[Right-sided endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus during the neonatal period. (A case report)]

Right-sided infectious endocarditis in the neonate, due to staphylococcus aureus, is a rare entity. A high index of suspicion should be used when dealing with a very sick neonate, especially with aggressive reanimation. Although the diagnosis is clinical, echocardiography is essential to confirm the diagnosis and also is an excellent mean to follow the evolution of the disease. The pathogenesis of the infection is due to bacteremia with implantation of the staphylococcus on a normal endothelium. The prognosis is poor with a high mortality rate and possibility of sequelae (essentially cardiac and neurologic). The prognosis depends essentially on early diagnosis and treatment which should last for at least 4-6 weeks. The authors present the case of a 2-week-old girl who developed a right-sided staphylococcal endocarditis following treatment of neonatal jaundice with i.v. perfusion of albumin. The patient survived with cardiac and central nervous system sequelae.