We would like to emphasize that SA is mono-articular, frequently localized in the knee, hip and ankle in 85% of patients, joint fluid culture was positive in 55% of patients, bacteria was isolated from one or more cultures of blood, joint fluid, pus or bone in 70% of patients and the most common isolated micro-organism was S. aureus. In addition, it must be pointed out that children younger than 2 years of age with fever, a positive trauma history and/or abnormal joint findings should be carefully examined for SA because the rate of SA was lower (7.5%) than expected in this age group. We also found that the mortality of SA was not influenced by age, joint involvement and bacterial agents, and there was no significant difference in symptoms on admission, the history of trauma and antibiotic use, sex, age, fever, joint involvement,anemia, leukocytosis and micro-organisms isolated from joint fluid and blood between patients with SA

SUMMARYThe clinical and laboratory findings of eight (20%) cases of cardiac involvement of 39 patients with sepsis caused by S. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) were reviewed retrospectively. Our purpose was to emphasize the importance of the cardiac findings in patients with sepsis caused by S. aureus in childhood. The ages of the patients ranged from 6 to 14 years. All patients had pericardial effusion which was confirmed by echocardiographic (ECHO) examination in all cases except the one in whom ECHO examination could not be performed because he died 2.5 days after admission to the hospital. This patient also had myocarditis and heart failure. Aside from these, mitral insufficiency was diagnosed in the other patient; it was accepted as a sequela of rheumatic fever acquired previously. Open pericardial drainage was conducted successfully in the case who had a progression to cardiac tamponade. In the other patients pericardial effusion completely resolved with supportive and antibiotic therapy one to two weeks. Two of eight patients died from sepsis and septic shock; the mortality rate was 25%. Our findings show that cardiac involvement was fairly high (20%) in S. aureus sepsis in childhood. Therefore, it is suggested that children with S. aureus sepsis should be carefully monitored for cardiac involvement. (Jpn Heart J 2002; 43: 9-11)

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It was found that the rate of pulmonary involvement was as high as 82% in sepsis caused by S. aureus, and the pulmonary findings, including bronchopneumonic infiltration and lobar consolidation, were frequently seen in S. aureus pneumonia, causing a mortality rate of 18.75%.

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