Primary staphylococcal pneumonia in young children: a review of 100 cases

This is a retrospective review of the clinical radiological and laboratory findings and natural history of children with staphylococcal pneumonia seen at Red Cross War Memorial Hospital in Cape Town South Africa over a 7-year period (1989-95). Of the 100 children identified for further analysis 78 were less than one year old at the time of presentation. The most common presenting complaints were cough (82%) fever (70%) grunting (43%) and difficulty in breathing (32%). Gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 40% of the cases. 67 patients exhibited empyema pleural effusion or pyopneumothorax in their initial chest radiographs. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 23 out of 98 blood cultures 62 out of 67 pleural aspirates and from tracheal aspirates in 16 cases. There were 7 case fatalities. This study demonstrates that primary staphylococcal pneumonia is mainly a disease of infants with signs and symptoms that are similar to other forms of acute pneumonia. Patients treated with antibiotics and drainage of empyema had favorable outcomes.