Case Report

Staphylococcus aureus Pericardial Abscess in a Patient with Liver Cirrhosis: Case Report

Authors: Fadi El-Ahdab, MD, Mark East, MD, Daniel Sexton, MD, Thomas Bashore, MD

Abstract

Pericardial abscess is a rare complication of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. We report the case of a 40-year-old man with hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis who presented with high-grade fever and chest pain. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a pericardial mass and computed tomographic scanning and transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the presence of a loculated fluid collection. His illness persisted despite IV antibiotics and video-assisted thoracoscopic drainage. The patient was cured after surgical drainage and pericardiectomy.

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