Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in preterm neonates.

This article describes three extremely low birth weight infants with Staphylococcus aureus septicemia associated with insertion of a percutaneous central venous catheter who later developed endocarditis. Echocardiography demonstrated large vegetations although only one infant had a murmur. Following a 6-week course of intravenous flucloxacillin and netilmicin, the endocarditis completely resolved and further intervention was unnecessary, although one baby died later as a result of volvulus and chronic lung disease. Echocardiography should be performed to exclude invasive infection in infants with S. aureus septicemia even when there is no murmur or other evidence of endocarditis. If endocarditis is identified, a good outcome is possible with appropriate aggressive antibiotic therapy.