Key result
Antibiotics plus transthoracic pericardiostomy achieves complete resolution of infant staphylococcal purulent pericarditis.
Why the study?
Purulent pericarditis is a rare complication of sepsis, often underdiagnosed in children due to nonspecific presentations and limited diagnostic resources in developing countries.
Case Report (n=1)
No
May support combined antibiotics and pericardiostomy in rare infant purulent pericarditis; leaves open generalizability and need for prospective data.
Purulent pericarditis is a rare complication of sepsis. It is almost exclusively a complication from an underlying condition rather than a primary infection. Staphylococcus aureus is the commonest aetiologic agent. Its diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion especially in the presence of persistent fever and signs of cardiac tamponade in spite of appropriate antibiotic use. A case of purulent pericarditis in an infant is here presented to illustrate the importance of a high index of suspicion and simple investigations in its diagnosis in resource limited practice. In addition, the importance of prompt treatment with drainage of the abscess and use of appropriate antibiotics to achieve a good prognosis is shown.
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Oloyede et al. (1970) conducted a case report in Staphylococcal septicaemia complicated with purulent pericarditis (n=1). Antibiotics and pericardiostomy was evaluated on Clinical resolution. Treatment with intravenous antibiotics and transthoracic pericardiostomy resulted in complete resolution of purulent pericarditis complicating staphylococcal septicaemia in an infant.
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