Cardiac complications in children with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Clinically silent endocarditis was detected in 4 (11%) of 36 hospitalized children with staphylococcal bacteremia who underwent echocardiographic examination. Pericarditis was detected in two further children. Only one child had underlying cardiac disease (patent ductus arteriosus). Echocardiography should be considered in children with staphylococcemia even if an obvious extracardiac focus is apparent.