Acute purulent pericarditis caused by Clostridium septicum

• Published in: Cor et vasa (English ed.) Vol. 60; no. 4; pp. e407 - e411
• Main Authors: Šulc, Daniel, Radvan, Martin, Tesák, Martin, Bednář, Jiří, Šujanová, Veronika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Sp. z o.o 01-08-2018
• Subjects: Acute purulent pericarditis; Cardiovascular; Clostridium septicum; Liver cirrhosis; Acute purulent pericarditis; Clostridium septicum; Liver cirrhosis
• ISSN: 0010-8650; 1803-7712
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2017.02.003

Abstract Acute purulent pericarditis is a life threatening disease with a high mortality. It has a low incidence; approximately 1% of all cases of pericarditis. In the Western world the most common aetiology are staphylococci, streptococci and pneumococci, while the mycobacterial aetiology is more common in developing countries. We describe the case of a 71-year-old man suffering from liver cirrhosis with an acute purulent pericarditis. The organism responsible for his pericarditis was Clostridium septicum ; a Gram-positive obligatory pathogen, commonly associated with gastrointestinal tumours. Despite the prolonged, targeted antibiotic therapy, the infection resulted in endocarditis and the need for an urgent the aortic valve replacement.