Purulent pericarditis is a localized infection of the pericardium producing an effusion that is both microscopically and macroscopically purulent. Purulent pericarditis is most frequently caused by Staphylococcus, although rarely Streptococcus and other organisms are implicated. This article describes a case of invasive group A streptococcal disease presenting as purulent pericarditis with multiple splenic abscesses in a 4-year-old boy.
CurtisN. Invasive group A streptococcal infection. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 1996;9:191-202.
2.
SteerACDanchinMHCarapetisJR. Group A streptococcal infection in children. J Paediatr Child Health. 2007;43:203-213.
3.
VigneswaranWTHardieRFergusonJCFaichneyA. Cardiac tamponade due to Lancefield group A beta haemolytic streptococcal pericarditis. Thorax. 1985;40:549-550.
4.
PruittJL. Group A streptococcal pericarditis in a previously well child. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1989;8:338.
5.
ThébaudBSidiDKachanerJ. Purulent pericarditis in children: a 15-year experience [in French]. Arch Pediatr. 1996;3:1084-1090.
6.
Bhaduri-McIntoshSPrasadMMoltedoJVázquezM. Purulent pericarditis caused by group A streptococcus. Tex Heart Inst J. 2006;33:519-522.
7.
AngoulvantFBellangerHMagnierSBidetPSaizouCDaugerS. Acute purulent pericarditis in childhood: don’t forget β-haemolytic group-A streptococcus. Intensive Care Med. 2011;37:1709-1710.
8.
StevensDL. Invasive group A streptococcus infections. Clin Infect Dis. 1992;14:2-11.
9.
StevensDLTannerMHWinshipJ. Severe group A streptococcal infections associated with a toxic shock-like syndrome and scarlet fever toxin A. N Engl J Med. 1989;321:1-7.
10.
StevensDL. The flesh-eating bacterium: what’s next?J Infect Dis. 1999;179(suppl 2):S366-S374.
11.
MartinJMGreenM. Group A streptococcus. Semin Pediatr Infect Dis. 2006;17:140-148.
12.
Defining the group A streptococcal toxic shock syndrome: rationale and consensus definition. The Working Group on Severe Streptococcal Infections. JAMA. 1993;269: 390-391.
13.
O’BrienKLBeallBBarrettNL. Epidemiology of invasive group A streptococcus disease in the United States, 1995-1999. Clin Infect Dis. 2002;35:268-276.
14.
O’LoughlinRERobersonACieslakPR; Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Team. The epidemiology of invasive group A streptococcal infection and potential vaccine implications: United States, 2000-2004. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;45:853-862.
15.
BenjaminBKEbenrothES. Purulent pericarditis in a neonate. Pediatr Cardiol. 2006;27:351-353.
16.
KlacsmannPGBulkleyBHHutchinsGM. The changed spectrum of purulent pericarditis: an 86 year autopsy experience in 200 patients. Am J Med. 1977;63:666-673.
17.
Sagristà-SauledaJBarrabésJAPermanyer-MiraldaGSoler-SolerJ. Purulent pericarditis: review of a 20-year experience in a general hospital. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1993;22:1661-1665.
18.
ParikhSVMemonNEcholsMShahJMcGuireDKKeeleyEC. Purulent pericarditis: report of 2 cases and review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore). 2009;88:52-65.
19.
HallIP. Purulent pericarditis. Postgrad Med J. 1989;65:444-448.
20.
CakirOGurkanFBalciAEErenNDikiciB. Purulent pericarditis in childhood: ten years of experience. J Pediatr Surg. 2002;37:1404-1408.
21.
ChangKWChiuCHJaingTHWongHF. Splenic abscess caused by group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus. Acta Paediatr. 2003;92:510-511.
22.
ChiangISLinTJChaingICTsaiMS. Splenic abscesses: review of 29 cases. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2003;19: 510-515.
23.
NelkenNIgnatiusJSkinnerMChristensenN. Changing clinical spectrum of splenic abscess: a multicenter study and review of the literature. Am J Surg. 1987;154:27-34.
