Purulent pericarditis due to group B streptococcus and mycotic aneurysm ofthe ascending aorta - Case report

A 61-year-old female, with a history of uterine and cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy and 2 years of postoperative chemotherapy, prese nted to the emergency department with dyspnea on exertion. Computed tomogra phy of the chest revealed a large pericardial effusion and a sacciform aneu rysm of the ascending aorta. The patient subsequently underwent emergency p ericardiocentesis with drainage of approximately 330 ml of a bloody and tur bid effusion. Cultures from the effusion yielded group B streptococcus. Mul tiple organ failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome occ urred in the acute phase, but gradually improved with continuous antibiotic therapy. On the 194th hospital day, in situ reconstruction of the ascendin g aorta was successfully performed using a synthetic graft. Although rarely reported, both purulent bacterial pericarditis and mycotic aneurysm can be life-threatening.