Purulent pericarditis refers to localized inflammation in the setting of infection of the pericardial sac surrounding the heart.[1] In contrast to other causes of pericarditis which may have a viral etiology, purulent pericarditis refers specifically to bacterial or fungal infection of the pericardial sac.[2] Clinical etiologies of purulent pericarditis may include recent surgery, adjacent infection, trauma, or even primary infection.[3] The onset of purulent pericarditis is usually acute, with most individuals presenting to a medical facility approximately 3 days following the onset of symptoms.[4]
| Purulent Pericarditis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Echocardiogram showing pericardial effusion with signs of cardiac tamponade | |
| Specialty | Cardiology |
| Symptoms | substernal chest pain (exacerbated supine and with breathing deeply), dyspnea, fever, rigors/chills, and cardiorespiratory signs (i.e., tachycardia, friction rub, pulsus paradoxus, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, pleural effusion) |
| Usual onset | acute |
| Causes | recent surgery, adjacent infection, trauma, primary infection |
| Diagnostic method | electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram/cardiac ultrasound ("echo"), chest radiograph, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests |
| Treatment | antibiotics, pericardiocentesis, pericardiectomy, pericardial window, video-assisted thoracic surgery |
As a subtype of pericarditis, purulent pericarditis often presents with substernal chest pain that is exacerbated by deep breathing and lying in the supine position.[5] Other presenting features that may be more specific for purulent pericarditis include fever, rigors/chills, and cardiorespiratory signs (i.e., tachycardia, friction rub, pulsus paradoxus, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, pleural effusion).[4] The incidence of cardiac tamponade varies from 42-77% and is associated with rapid-onset mortality, especially without prompt intervention.[4]
Chest radiography may reveal cardiomegaly, pneumonia, pleural effusion, and/or mediastinal widening.[4] Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a component of the diagnostic work-up which may suggest pericarditis as the underlying cause of symptoms. The ECG findings for purulent pericarditis are similar to those for other etiologies of pericarditis. ECG findings may include diffuse S-T segment elevation, diffuse T wave inversion, low QRS voltage, and/or electrical alternans.[4][6] Echocardiogram may be used to evaluate for fluid collection in the pericardial sac, and may be important in guiding therapy in patients with signs of cardiac compromise (i.e., cardiac tamponade).[3][7]
Treatment modalities for purulent pericarditis include antibiotic therapy, with potential adjuncts such as pericardiocentesis or pericardial window when cardiac compromise is evident.[3]
Causes
editPurulent pericarditis is usually caused by bacterial or fungal infection of the pericardial sac surrounding the heart.[2] In modern medicine, the incidence of purulent pericarditis is uncommon. One study conducted in Spain identified an incidence < 0.006 in a population of 593,600.[8] When comparing the pre-antibiotic period with the modern era of medicine, there is increased difficulty identifying a primary source of infection in the modern era of medicine.[9] Primary infectious disease in the pre-antibiotic era was found most commonly secondary to pneumonia or endocarditis, whereas pneumonia or meningitis have been found more commonly in the modern era. Other risk factors that contribute to the development of purulent pericarditis include recent thoracic surgery, chronic renal failure, malignancy, immunosuppression, alcohol abuse, thoracic surgery, and chest trauma.[3]
Signs and symptoms
editPurulent pericarditis usually presents acutely, marked by high fever, tachycardia, cough, and chest pain.[3] While fever is present in almost all presentations, chest pain is less common when comparing purulent pericarditis to acute pericarditis from other etiologies.[4][8] Additionally, a pericardial friction rub is present in 35-45% of cases, and the incidence of cardiac tamponade ranges from 42 to 77%.[4][8] Studies have indicated that the average time elapsed before hospitalization is 3–10 days.[4][8]
Diagnosis
edit
The diagnosis of purulent pericarditis requires a combination of clinical assessment, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. Pericardiocentesis with evaluation of pericardial fluid by culture and microscopy is necessary to make the diagnosis, however several other findings may increase the likelihood of purulent pericarditis.[3]
- Leukocytosis (an increase in white blood cell count)
- Chest x-ray showing cardiomegaly, pulmonary infiltrates, pleural effusion(s), pericardial effusion, and/or mediastinal widening[4]
- Electrocardiography (ECG) depicting changes consistent with acute pericarditis[4][8]
- Echocardiography (transthoracic or transesophageal) showing fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart with possible evidence of cardiac tamponade
Treatment
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Treatment for purulent pericarditis consists of two main components.[3]
- Antimicrobial therapy. Empiric intravenous antimicrobial therapy is recommended as soon as a diagnosis of purulent pericarditis is suspected.[3]
- Pericardial drainage. There are several therapeutic mechanisms that can be used to drain purulent fluid from the pericardial sac. These include pericardiocentesis, and possible subxiphoid pericardiotomy, pericardiectomy, and video-assisted thoracic surgery in complicated cases.[3][8][10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Costa, Laura; Carvalho, Diana; Coelho, Elisabete; Leal, Dina; Lencastre, Luís (2021-07-14). "Purulent Pericarditis: Is It Really a Disease of the Past?". European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine. 8 (7): 002658. doi:10.12890/2021_002658. ISSN 2284-2594. PMC 8336749. PMID 34377691.
- ^ a b Tingle, Leslie E.; Molina, Daniel; Calvert, Charles W. (2007-11-15). "Acute pericarditis". American Family Physician. 76 (10): 1509–1514. ISSN 0002-838X. PMID 18052017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Adler, Yehuda; Charron, Philippe; Imazio, Massimo; Badano, Luigi; Barón-Esquivias, Gonzalo; Bogaert, Jan; Brucato, Antonio; Gueret, Pascal; Klingel, Karin; Lionis, Christos; Maisch, Bernhard; Mayosi, Bongani; Pavie, Alain; Ristić, Arsen D; Sabaté Tenas, Manel (2015-11-07). "2015 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases". European Heart Journal. 36 (42): 2921–2964. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehv318. ISSN 0195-668X. PMC 7539677. PMID 26320112.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rubin, Robert H.; Moellering, Robert C. (July 1975). "Clinical, microbiologic and therapeutic aspects of purulent pericarditis". The American Journal of Medicine. 59 (1): 68–78. doi:10.1016/0002-9343(75)90323-X. PMID 1138554.
- ^ Chiabrando, Juan Guido; Bonaventura, Aldo; Vecchié, Alessandra; Wohlford, George F.; Mauro, Adolfo G.; Jordan, Jennifer H.; Grizzard, John D.; Montecucco, Fabrizio; Berrocal, Daniel Horacio; Brucato, Antonio; Imazio, Massimo; Abbate, Antonio (January 2020). "Management of Acute and Recurrent Pericarditis". Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 75 (1): 76–92. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.021. PMID 31918837. S2CID 210132213.
- ^ Imazio, Massimo; Demichelis, Brunella; Parrini, Iris; Giuggia, Marco; Cecchi, Enrico; Gaschino, Gianni; Demarie, Daniela; Ghisio, Aldo; Trinchero, Rita (2004-03-17). "Day-hospital treatment of acute pericarditis: a management program for outpatient therapy". Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 43 (6): 1042–1046. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2003.09.055. ISSN 0735-1097. PMID 15028364.
- ^ Salem, K.; Mulji, A.; Lonn, E. (November 1999). "Echocardiographically guided pericardiocentesis - the gold standard for the management of pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade". The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 15 (11): 1251–1255. ISSN 0828-282X. PMID 10579740.
- ^ a b c d e f Sagristà-Sauleda, J.; Barrabés, J. A.; Permanyer-Miralda, G.; Soler-Soler, J. (1993-11-15). "Purulent pericarditis: review of a 20-year experience in a general hospital". Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 22 (6): 1661–1665. doi:10.1016/0735-1097(93)90592-o. ISSN 0735-1097. PMID 8227835.
- ^ "The changed spectrum of purulent pericarditis. An 86 year autopsy experience in 200 patients". The American Journal of Medicine. 63 (5): A93. November 1977. doi:10.1016/0002-9343(77)90172-3. ISSN 0002-9343.
- ^ Augustin, Pascal; Desmard, Mathieu; Mordant, Pierre; Lasocki, Sigismond; Maury, Jean-Michel; Heming, Nicholas; Montravers, Philippe (2011-04-20). "Clinical review: intrapericardial fibrinolysis in management of purulent pericarditis". Critical Care. 15 (2): 220. doi:10.1186/cc10022. ISSN 1466-609X. PMC 3219308. PMID 21575282.