Pericarditis; bacterial

Alternative names:

bacterial pericarditis

Definition:

An inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like covering of the heart, caused by a bacterial infection. (It may also be called purulent or infectious pericarditis.)

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Bacterial infections are one cause of pericarditis. Since the advent of antibiotics, bacterial pericarditis has become relatively rare, affecting approximately 1 out of 10,000 people. It most often occurs in men between the ages of 20 and 50, most frequently after some type of respiratory infection.

The bacterial infection causes inflammation and swelling of the pericardium. Pain occurs as a result of the inflamed pericardium rubbing against the heart. Fluid may accumulate in the pericardial sac.

The infection may occur because of spread of bacteria from an infection in the lung (such as pneumonia), bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream), or after heart surgery.

The most common organisms are staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, hemophilus influenza (also called H.flu), and meningococci.