Potential role of microbiological agents in sudden infant death syndrome

The potential role of microbiological agents was investigated in 10 cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Budapest between September 1996 and December 1997. Autopsy, histological examination and microbiological tests were performed on samples of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, pharyngeal and bronchial samples from infants under six months died suddenly, without previous diseases. The multifactorial pathomechanism of SIDS was suggested by detection of Parainfluenza Type virus antigen, isolation of toxin producing Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae and Candida albicans strains in large number of more samples of the same infant.