Pneumococcal endocarditis in children.
Endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is unusual in children, accounting for 3%-7% of all cases of childhood endocarditis. The US Pediatric Multicenter Pneumococcal Surveillance Group has prospectively identified patients with invasive disease at 8 children's hospitals. During the period of 1 September 1993 through 28 February 2003, a total of 11 children with pneumococcal endocarditis were seen. Seven (64%) were 3-36 months old; 8 (73%) were boys. Ten (91%) had preexisting structural heart disease; 5 had undergone previous heart surgery. Concomitant sites of infection were noted in 6 patients (55%), including 3 patients with meningitis. One patient (9%) died during hospitalization, and 5 others (45%) experienced serious complications. Only 2 patients remained hospitalized for their entire course of parenteral antibiotic therapy. Eight of 10 pneumococcal isolates tested were vaccine or vaccine-related serotypes included in the currently licensed 7-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine. Pneumococcal endocarditis in children is unusual but often has serious complications.
Givner
Laurence B
LB
Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. lgivner@wfubmc.edu
Mason
Edward O
EO
Tan
Tina Q
TQ
Barson
William J
WJ
Schutze
Gordon E
GE
Wald
Ellen R
ER
Bradley
John S
JS
Hoffman
Jill
J
Yogev
Ram
R
Kaplan
Sheldon L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents