Great Toe Infection Leading to Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Pericarditis and Tamponade

Bacterial pericarditis is an uncommon presentation that can occur secondarily to the contiguous spread of infection from an intrathoracic focus, hematogenous seeding from a distant site, or via trauma and intrathoracic surgery. Its presence is linked to a high mortality rate with death generally caused by cardiac tamponade, fulminant sepsis, and acute decompensated heart failure. We describe a rare case of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) pericarditis in a patient after great toe amputation; the patient developed cardiac tamponade and required urgent percutaneous pericardiocentesis with the placement of a temporary drain. The patient was then successfully treated with IV antibiotics and did not require further invasive procedures such as surgical pericardiotomy.