OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus infections among children.
METHOD: A cross sectional study conducted in Pediatric Ward Sanglah Hospital, by taking data from medical records of pediatric patients who were proven to have Staphylococcus aureus infection through microbiological examination while undergoing treatment in Pediatric Ward Sanglah Hospital from January 2017 to December 2018. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee at Medical Faculty of Udayana University, Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar. The data was analyzed using SPSS 22.0.
RESULT: There were total of 30 pediatric patients who were proven to have Staphylococcus aureus infection (63% male) through microbiological examination. The most common in age group 12-18 years old (36.7%). Malnourished found in 53% of the patients. Malignancy, pneumonia, and chronic kidney disease were found to be present in 8 (26.7%), 5 (16.7%), and 5 (16.7%) subjects as the major comorbidities in this study. The average length of stay before Staphylococcus aureus infection was 9.77 (SD 10.67) days with average total length of stay was 21.97 (SD 17.53) days. Most subjects used medical devices with an average duration of use of each medical device was more than 10 days. Antibiotics that were given before infection, most of the time, were Cefepime, Amikacin, and Cefixime with an average duration of use of each antibiotic was more than 7 days. Infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were uncommon (occuring in two patients) and the mortality rate for this case was 33% (ten patients).
CONCLUSION: Staphylococcus aureus infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Underlying medical conditions and medical devices used are important risk factors. Mortality rate is quite high.