Abstract
Neonatal osteomyelitis is rare. However, since the first isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 20 months ago in our nursery, we have diagnosed 4 cases of osteomyelitis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. During this period we have encountered 8 infants with systemic disease, 2 infants with localized disease and 8 infants with colonization alone due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Blood cultures were positive in 3 of 4 infants with osteomyelitis. Their mean birthweight was 1070 g and the mean gestational age was 29.6 weeks. Incidence of central line placement, need for multiple transfusions and prolonged total parenteral nutrition therapy indicate their complicated hospital course. The onset of the osteomyelitis was insidious and the early symptoms were non-specific. Multiple bones were involved in 2 infants, and 3 infants developed septic arthritis requiring surgical drainage. These infants were treated with vancomycin for 6-8 weeks. In contrast, the infants with colonization alone were larger, and has less complicated hospital courses. Our experience suggests that the infants developing systemic disease due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are similar to those acquiring Candida infection. However, unlike disseminated candidiasis significantly greater number of neonates with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection develop osteomyelitis.
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Crouse, D., Mathew, O., Bhatia, J. et al. 1082 NEONATAL OSTEOMYELITIS DUE TO METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS. Pediatr Res 19, 291 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01112
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01112
