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Culture-negative pericarditis caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C

Kaoutar Moumile1, Etienne Carbonnelle, Philippe Dessemme

  • 1Laboratoire de Microbiologie. Unité INSERM U570, Faculté de Necker-Enfants Malades, Malades, Paris, France. kaoutar.moumile@nck.ap-hop-paris.fr

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|February 10, 2004
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of purulent pericarditis in an infant was caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C. Broad-spectrum PCR detected the bacteria in pericardial fluid, aiding diagnosis when cultures were negative.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Cardiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Purulent pericarditis is a rare but serious condition in children.
  • Culture-negative pericarditis presents diagnostic challenges.
  • Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C is a known cause of invasive disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of primary purulent culture-negative pericarditis.
  • To highlight the utility of broad-spectrum PCR in diagnosing rare pathogens.
  • To identify Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C as the causative agent.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of an 8-month-old boy with suspected pericarditis.
  • Analysis of pericardial fluid for microbial agents.
  • Utilized broad-spectrum polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification.
  • Standard microbiological culture techniques were employed.

Main Results:

  • Pericardial fluid cultures were negative for bacterial growth.
  • Broad-spectrum PCR successfully identified Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C DNA.
  • The patient was diagnosed with primary purulent pericarditis.

Conclusions:

  • Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C can cause primary purulent pericarditis in infants.
  • Broad-spectrum PCR is a valuable tool for diagnosing culture-negative pericarditis.
  • Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management of pediatric pericarditis.

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