Pericarditis - bacterial
Key points
- Bacterial pericarditis is an inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium), caused by a bacterial infection.
- Bacterial infections are one cause of pericarditis.
- When listening to the heart through a stethoscope, the health care provider may be able to hear a pericardial rubbing sound, and heart sounds may be faint or distant.
- Antibiotics are used aggressively to treat bacterial infections.
Alternative names
Purulent pericarditis
Definition
Bacterial pericarditis is an inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium), caused by a bacterial infection.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Bacterial infections are one cause of pericarditis. Since the advent of antibiotics, bacterial pericarditis has become relatively rare.
It most often occurs in men between the ages of 20 and 50, usually after some type of respiratory infection. It can also occur after skin or oral infections that produce bacteremia (bacterial infection of the blood) and after heart surgery.
The bacterial infection causes inflammation of the pericardium. Pain occurs as a result of the inflamed pericardium rubbing against the heart. Fluid may accumulate in the pericardial sac.
The most common organisms that cause this condition are staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, hemophilus influenza (also called H.flu), and meningococci.
Symptoms
- Chest pain
o radiating to the neck, shoulder, back or abdomen
o described as sharp, stabbing
o increases with breathing - the preferred position to relieve the pain is upright, standing or sitting
- difficulty breathing
- splinting of ribs with deep breathing (bends over of holds chest when breathing)
- dry cough
- anxiety
- fatigue
- fever
- sweating
- chills
Signs and tests
When listening to the heart through a stethoscope, the health care provider may be able to hear a pericardial rubbing sound, and heart sounds may be faint or distant. There may be other signs of fluid in the pericardium (pericardial effusion).
If the disorder is severe, there may be signs of fluid in the space around the lungs (pleural effusion), such as decreased breath sounds. The person may appear toxic (septic shock) and critically ill. There may be signs of associated pneumonia.
Doctors may suspect this disorder when one of the following tests shows an abnormal amount of fluid in the pericardial sac:
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
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