Abstract
Purulent pericarditis was a prevalent complication of streptococcal pneumonia prior to the antibiotic era. In this article, we report a 68-year-old male presenting with dyspnea, chest pain, left knee pain, diagnosed with S. pneumoniae bacteremia and septic arthritis with isolation of same pathogen from synovial fluid.
ECG showed diffuse ST elevations, TTE showed small pericardial effusion along RV free wall. A subsequent TTE showed a pericardial effusion with signs of tamponade. Patient underwent a pericardiocentesis with drainage of purulent fluid. Repeat TTE showed a 2.7 mm vegetation on mitral valve. CT surgery recommended only antibiotics.
Purulent pericarditis is a life-threatening disease, so timely diagnosis and treatment are essential.
Keywords
Purulent pericarditis, Tamponade, Infective endocarditis, Pericardiocentesis