Sudden death in neonate with staphylococcal endocarditis.
A 27-week-old girl, 936 gm, with initial diagnosis of birth asphyxia resulting from prolapse of the umbilical cord, respiratory distress syndrome, and suspected neonatal sepsis received antibiotics for the first 7 days of life. On day 24, evidence developed of acute Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve, and she died 4 days later. We believe that a rapid enlargement of the endocardial vegetation caused acute occlusion of the small mitral valve and was the cause of sudden death in this infant.
Perez-Benavides
F
F
Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Lubbock 79430.
Park
J M
JM
Myers
M K
MK
Graham
S C
SC
Shehata
B M
BM
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000150:complications; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000150:complications; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography