Author/Authors :
Farhat-Sabet, Ardalon Department of Internal Medicine - Brooke Army Medical Center, Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA , Hull, Robert Department of Internal Medicine - Brooke Army Medical Center, Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA , Thomas, Dustin Department of Internal Medicine - Brooke Army Medical Center, Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
Abstract :
Purulent pericarditis is a potentially fatal disease with high mortality rates if untreated. Cutibacterium acnes (formerly
Propionibacterium acnes) is an anaerobic bacteria that is ubiquitous in skin flora and is commonly thought of as a culture
contaminant; however, it does have pathogenic potential. We present a case of purulent pericarditis secondary to C. acnes
leading to cardiac tamponade. Initial stabilization and diagnosis were made via pericardiocentesis; afterward the patient
underwent a pericardial window. Due to a severe penicillin allergy, he was successfully treated with a 14-day course of
vancomycin. To our knowledge, this represents only the third published case of purulent pericarditis with cardiac tamponade
caused by C. acnes and the first case treated with a 14-day course of vancomycin.
