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Streptococcus anginosus purulent pericarditis with cardiac tamponade presenting as a complication of postobstructive pneumonia
  1. Si Yuan Khor1,
  2. Abdul-Fatawu Osman1,
  3. Priyal Agarwal1 and
  4. Sandeep Banga2
  1. 1Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
  2. 2Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Si Yuan Khor; khorsiyu{at}msu.edu

Abstract

A man in his 60s with stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma of the left lung status postchemotherapy and radiation therapy presented with mixed septic and obstructive shock with multiorgan dysfunction. Initial electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia and diffuse concaved ST elevation. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed pericardial effusion with tamponade physiology. CT thorax was notable for dense left lung consolidation with pleural effusion. Emergent pericardiocentesis and percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy were performed which successfully drained 500 mL of purulent pericardial fluid. A left chest tube was placed and revealed a large volume of empyema. Both pericardial and pleural fluid cultures yielded similar strains of Streptococcus anginosus. The patient was initially treated with empiric broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics which were eventually de-escalated to intravenous ceftriaxone based on microbiology culture and sensitivity. Unfortunately, the patient developed pulseless electrical activity arrest on day 10 of intensive care unit stay and expired despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

  • Pericardial disease
  • Respiratory system
  • Pneumonia (infectious disease)
  • Adult intensive care

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Footnotes

  • Contributors SYK: Obtained consent, wrote initial draft, performed literature review, edited final manuscript. A-FO: Conducted literature review, made revision, edited final manuscript. PA: Made revision, edited final manuscript. SB: Assisted in images and videos selection.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.