Purulent Pericarditis: Is It Really a Disease of the Past?
  • Laura Costa
    Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
  • Diana Carvalho
    Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Elisabete Coelho
    Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
  • Dina Leal
    Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
  • Luís Lencastre
    Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal

Keywords

Bacterial pericarditis, secondary pericarditis, acute mediastinitis, pericardiocentesis

Abstract

The authors present a case of purulent pericarditis probably secondary to respiratory infection, a rare entity in the antibiotic era. Pericardial fluid analysis identified streptococci and oral anaerobes as the causative agents. A prolonged and complicated diagnostic and therapeutic course, which included a long stay in the intensive care unit, is described, and a review of purulent pericarditis provided. Pericardial effusion, particularly in the setting of concomitant respiratory infection and immunocompromise or other risk factors, should raise the suspicion of bacterial pericarditis and prompt its timely diagnosis and treatment. Purulent pericarditis can be lethal and has potentially severe complications, so adequate antimicrobial therapy and source control are key.

 

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    Published: 2021-07-14
    Issue: 2021: Vol 8 No 7 (view)


    How to cite:
    1.
    Costa L, Carvalho D, Coelho E, Leal D, Lencastre L. Purulent Pericarditis: Is It Really a Disease of the Past?. EJCRIM 2021;8 doi:10.12890/2021_002658.

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