Rare Purulent Cardiac Tamponade Caused by Streptococcus Constellatus in a Young Immunocompetent Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND Purulent pericardial tamponade is a very rare occurrence in the current era of widespread antibiotic use. It is even rarer when caused by Streptococcus constellatus: a microorganism usually classified among the normal flora of the human body. It is occasionally diagnosed with certain predisposing factors. CASE REPORT We present the third case of Streptococcus constellatus cardiac tamponade reported in the current medical literature, occurring in a previously healthy young man who was initially admitted and treated for possible community-acquired pneumonia. The patient required immediate subxyphoid pericardiocentesis. He was also treated successfully with a lengthy course of both intravenous and oral antibiotics. Two months post-hospitalization, he was confirmed clinically stable with complete resolution of his purulent effusion. We also conducted a review of the literature for all Streptococcus milleri group purulent pericardial infections between 1984 and 2015. CONCLUSIONS Purulent cardiac tamponade caused by Streptococcus constellatus is extremely rare. It can be life threatening, however. Early appropriate diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are critical for a good outcome.