A Rare Case of Rush Progression of Purulent Pericarditis by Escherichia coli in a Patient with Malignant Lymphoma

Abstract

Purulent pericarditis is a rare disease in the antibiotic era. The common pathogens of purulent pericarditis are gram-positive species such as Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella, Haemophilus, fungal pathogens/tuberculosis can also result in purulent pericarditis. We report an old male case of purulent pericarditis by Escherichia coli. He came to our hospital suffering from leg edema for 3 months. Echocardiography revealed the large amount of pericardial effusion, and he was admitted to test the cause of pericardial effusion without high fever, tachycardia, and shock vital signs. On the third day, he suddenly presented vital shock. We performed emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation and pericardiocentesis. Appearance of pericardial effusion was hemorrhagic and purulent. The gram stain revealed remarkable E. coli invasion to pericardial space. Antibiotic therapy was immediately started; however, he died on sixth day with septic shock. The cytological examination of pericardial effusion suggested the invasion of malignant lymphoma to pericardium. This case showed subacute or chronic process of pericarditis without severe clinical and laboratory sings before admission. Nevertheless, bacterial purulent pericarditis usually shows acute clinical manifestation; the first process of this case was very silent. Immunosuppression of malignant lymphoma might make E. coli translocation from gastrointestinal tract to pericardial space, and bacterial pericarditis was progressed to purulent pericarditis. In the latter process, this case showed unexpected rush progression to death by sepsis from purulent pericarditis. Immediate pericardiocentesis should be performed for a prompt diagnosis of purulent pericarditis, and it might have improved the outcome of this case.

Keywords: Infectious pericarditis; Purulent effusion; Sepsis.