Staphylococcus aureus pericardial abscess in a patient with liver cirrhosis: case report

Massive purulent pericardial effusion presenting as atrial fibrillation with rapid rate: case report and review of the literature

Patient: Male, 59

Final Diagnosis: Pleural and pericardial effusion from a Streptococcus pneumonia

Symptoms: Chest pain • chills • cough • fever • shortness of breath

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Pericardiocentesis • pericardial window

Specialty: Cardiology

Staphylococcus aureus pericardial abscess presenting as severe sepsis and septic shock after acupuncture therapy

Pericardial abscess is an extremely rare complication of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. We report a case of a 72-year-old woman with multiple acupuncture scars on both knees who presented with shortness of breath and general weakness. Transthoracic echocardiography and pericardiocentesis confirmed the presence of pericardial fluid collection. Staphylococcus aureus grew in both pericardial fluid and blood. Although an aggressive medical treatment including intravenous antibiotics and percutaneous drainage, the patient died 2 days after admission.

Staphylococcus aureus pericardial abscess presenting as a localized bulge of the heart contour

Purulent pericarditis usually presents as an acute illness with diffuse involvement of the whole pericardium, but can rarely present as a localized effusion. Here, we present a patient with a pericardial abscess caused by Staphylococcus aureus. After surgical drainage of the abscess, the patient made a good recovery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a pericardial abscess presenting as a localized bulge of the heart contour on the chest X-ray.

Staphylococcus aureus pericardial abscess in a child with beta-thalassemia major following double-unit unrelated cord blood transplantation

The authors describe a 10-year-old boy with beta-thalassemia major who received double-unit unrelated cord blood transplantation and had a rocky post-transplantation course that included an episode of massive pericardial effusion. Pericardial tube drainage was performed for evacuating fluid. Results showed hemorrhagic pericardial effusion. A Staphylococcus aureus pericardial abscess eventually developed despite antibiotics coverage. Temporary drain placement was unsuccessful and the patient underwent radical pericardiectomy. Although cyclosporine therapy had to be stopped before the 6-month withdrawal, the patient did well with full donor chimerism 14 months post-transplant.