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[Bacterial endocarditis in premature children. A complication caused by central venous catheters]
1Barneavdelingen, Ullevål sykehus, Oslo.
Insights
Bacterial endocarditis is increasingly reported in premature infants. This study highlights two cases of infective endocarditis in neonates with normal hearts, successfully treated with antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Bacterial endocarditis incidence is rising in premature neonates.
- Infective endocarditis is a serious condition affecting heart valves and surfaces.
- Premature infants often require intensive care, including central venous lines and parenteral nutrition.
Observation:
- Two prematurely born infants with structurally normal hearts presented with intercardiac vegetations.
- Echocardiography confirmed the presence of vegetations, suggestive of endocarditis.
- Both infants had central venous catheters and received total parenteral nutrition.
Findings:
- Infective endocarditis was diagnosed, caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci.
- Both infants received successful antibiotic treatment for the infection.
- One infant later died from sudden infant death syndrome.
Implications:
- Coagulase-negative staphylococci are a significant cause of endocarditis in premature neonates.
- Early diagnosis and prompt antibiotic therapy are crucial for favorable outcomes.
- Central venous lines and parenteral nutrition are potential risk factors for infective endocarditis in this population.
Abstract:
During the last ten years, the literature has included an increasing number of reports of bacterial endocarditis in prematurely born neonates. We describe the cases of two prematurely born infants with structurally normal hearts who, when examined by echo cardiography, were shown to have intercardial vegetations. They were diagnosed as having infective endocarditis caused by coagulase negative staphylococci. Both infants had central venous lines and received total parenteral nutrition. Both infants were treated successfully with antibiotics. One of them died later of sudden infant death syndrome.