Key result
Pericardial fluid CIE enables early H. influenzae pericarditis diagnosis to guide pericardectomy and antibiotics.
Counterimmunoelectrophoresis of pericardial fluid allows early diagnosis of Hemophilus influenzae pericarditis, which should be treated with pericardectomy and empiric ampicillin and chloramphenicol.
May aid early diagnosis in suspected cases; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
We saw an unusual case of spontaneous Hemophilus influenzae purulent pericarditis in an adult. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) of the pericardial fluid may be used to make an early, accurate diagnosis. Treatment should include pericardectomy and immediate use of both ampicillin sodium and chloramphenicol sodium succinate, until the sensitivity of the organism is known.
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Thomas A. Buckingham (1983) studied this question. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis of pericardial fluid enables early diagnosis of Hemophilus influenzae pericarditis, requiring pericardectomy and immediate ampicillin and chloramphenicol.
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