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Pericarditis - Bacterial
Alternate 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.
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Overview, Causes, & 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 which cause this condition are staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, hemophilus influenza (also called H.flu), and meningococci.
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• Definition
• Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Symptoms & Signs
• Diagnosis & Tests
• Treatment
• Prognosis
• Complications
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Cardiac Tamponade
• Heart Failure
• Pericarditis
• Pleural Effusion
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary Edema
• Septic Shock
Tests & Exams
• Blood Culture
• CBC
• Chest MRI
• Chest X-Ray
• Echocardiogram
• Pericardial Fluid Culture
• Pericardial Fluid Gram Stain
• Pericardiocentesis
• Thoracic CT
• WBC Count
Other Topics
• Breath Sounds
• Breathing Difficulty
• Chest Pain
• Chronic
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Heart Murmurs and Other Sounds
• Pain Medications
• Respiratory
• Stress and Anxiety
• Sweating - Excessive
Review Date : 11/11/2002
Reviewed By : Thippeswamy H. Murthy, M.D., Division of Cardiology, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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