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Cardiac tamponade secondary to haemophilus pericarditis: a case report
L Welikovitch1, J L Knight, G W Burggraf
1Division of Cardiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.
Abstract:
Pyogenic pericarditis is encountered uncommonly in clinical practice. The majority of cases of clinically apparent pericarditis are viral in origin. When bacterial infection of the pericardial space does occur the causative organism is usually Staphylococcus or Streptococcus species. Isolation of an haemophilus organism from the pericardial space in this condition is distinctly unusual. There are only 10 previously reported cases in the literature of pericarditis secondary to Haemophilus influenzae. This report describes the case of a 36-year-old woman who presented with haemophilus empyema and purulent pericarditis progressing to cardiac tamponade. There are isolated reports of successful treatment of pyogenic pericarditis with closed drainage and antibiotics. In the absence of clear evidence demonstrating the efficacy of this approach the authors favour open exploration of the pericardial space.
Insights
Pyogenic pericarditis is rare, with bacterial infections uncommon. This case highlights a rare instance of Haemophilus influenzae causing purulent pericarditis and cardiac tamponade, favoring surgical intervention.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Pyogenic pericarditis is an uncommon condition, often overshadowed by viral etiologies.
- Bacterial pericarditis typically involves Staphylococcus or Streptococcus species.
Observation:
- This report details a rare case of a 36-year-old woman with Haemophilus influenzae-induced purulent pericarditis and empyema.
- The patient developed cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening complication.
Findings:
- Isolation of Haemophilus influenzae from the pericardial space is exceptionally rare, with only 10 prior reports.
- The case illustrates the progression to cardiac tamponade.
Implications:
- While closed drainage and antibiotics have been reported, their efficacy is not clearly established.
- The authors advocate for open exploration of the pericardial space due to limited evidence supporting less invasive methods.