Cardiac findings in childhood staphylococcal sepsis.

Abstract

The clinical and laboratory findings of eight (20%) cases of cardiac involvement of 39 patients with sepsis caused by S. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) were reviewed retrospectively. Our purpose was to emphasize the importance of the cardiac findings in patients with sepsis caused by S. aureus in childhood. The ages of the patients ranged from 6 to 14 years. All patients had pericardial effusion which was confirmed by echocardiographic (ECHO) examination in all cases except the one in whom ECHO examination could not be performed because he died 2.5 days after admission to the hospital. This patient also had myocarditis and heart failure. Aside from these, mitral insufficiency was diagnosed in the other patient; it was accepted as a sequela of rheumatic fever acquired previously. Open pericardial drainage was conducted successfully in the case who had a progression to cardiac tamponade. In the other patients pericardial effusion completely resolved with supportive and antibiotic therapy one to two weeks. Two of eight patients died from sepsis and septic shock; the mortality rate was 25%. Our findings show that cardiac involvement was fairly high (20%) in S. aureus sepsis in childhood. Therefore, it is suggested that children with S. aureus sepsis should be carefully monitored for cardiac involvement.