Susanna Esposito1, Alessandra Mayer1, Andrzej Krzysztofiak2, Silvia Garazzino3, Rita Lipreri4, Luisa Galli5, Patrizia Osimani6, Emilio Fossali7, Maria Di Gangi8, Laura Lancella2, Marco Denina3, Giulia Pattarino4, Carlotta Montagnani5, Filippo Salvini9, Alberto Villani2, Nicola Principi1. 1. a Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation , Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy. 2. b Unit of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases , IRCCS Bambino Gesù Hospital , Rome , Italy. 3. c Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital , University of Turin , Turin , Italy. 4. d Pediatric Unit , Niguarda Hospital , Milan , Italy. 5. e Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Health Sciences , University of Florence, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital , Florence , Italy. 6. f Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit , Salesi Hospital , Ancona , Italy. 7. g Emergency Room Unit , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy. 8. h Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit , Di Cristina Hospital , Palermo , Italy. 9. i Pediatric Clinic, San Paolo Hospital , University of Milan , Milan , Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The Italian Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases created a registry on children with infective endocarditis (IE) hospitalized in Italy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on patients hospitalized due to IE in Italian paediatric wards between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2015. RESULTS: Over the 15-year study period, 47 IE episodes were observed (19 males; age range, 2-17 years). Viridans Streptococci were the most common pathogens among patients with predisposing cardiac conditions and Staphylococcus aureus among those without (37.9% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.018, and 6.9% vs. 27.8%, p = 0.089, respectively). Six of the 7 (85.7%) S. aureus strains were methicillin-resistant. The majority of patients with and without predisposing cardiac conditions recovered without any complications. CONCLUSION: In Italy, paediatric IE develops without any previous predisposing factors in a number of children, methicillin-resistant S. aureus has emerged as a common causative agent and the therapeutic approach is extremely variable.
OBJECTIVE: The Italian Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases created a registry on children with infective endocarditis (IE) hospitalized in Italy. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on patients hospitalized due to IE in Italian paediatric wards between January 1, 2000, and June 30, 2015. RESULTS: Over the 15-year study period, 47 IE episodes were observed (19 males; age range, 2-17 years). Viridans Streptococci were the most common pathogens among patients with predisposing cardiac conditions and Staphylococcus aureus among those without (37.9% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.018, and 6.9% vs. 27.8%, p = 0.089, respectively). Six of the 7 (85.7%) S. aureus strains were methicillin-resistant. The majority of patients with and without predisposing cardiac conditions recovered without any complications. CONCLUSION: In Italy, paediatric IE develops without any previous predisposing factors in a number of children, methicillin-resistant S. aureus has emerged as a common causative agent and the therapeutic approach is extremely variable.