Sudden death in neonate with staphylococcal endocarditis.

A 27-week-old girl, 936 gm, with initial diagnosis of birth asphyxia resulting from prolapse of the umbilical cord, respiratory distress syndrome, and suspected neonatal sepsis received antibiotics for the first 7 days of life. On day 24, evidence developed of acute Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve, and she died 4 days later. We believe that a rapid enlargement of the endocardial vegetation caused acute occlusion of the small mitral valve and was the cause of sudden death in this infant.