Transthoracic echocardiography in children with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a multi-centre retrospective analysis

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This study included 101 children with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) from six hospitals in North West London between 2018 and 2023.
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Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 71 children, with infective endocarditis (IE) confirmed in 5.6% of those undergoing TTE.
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All confirmed IE cases were right-sided and occurred in children with established risk factors such as congenital heart disease or intravenous drug use.
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Children who underwent TTE had longer hospital stays compared to those who did not, with a median of 17 days versus 4 days.
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The study suggests a risk-stratified approach to TTE in pediatric SAB, emphasizing the need for prospective validation before routine practice changes.

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