Purulent pericarditis due to co-infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a patient with features of advanced HIV infection

doi:10.1186/1471-2334-7-12

BMC Infectious Diseases

Volume 7

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Case report

Purulent pericarditis due to co-infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a patient with features of advanced HIV infection

Andrew Louw¹ and Mohammed Tikly¹^,2

¹Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto, South Africa

²University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

author email corresponding author email

BMC Infectious Diseases 2007, 7:12doi:10.1186/1471-2334-7-12


Published:	8 March 2007

Abstract

Background

Both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are common pathogens in patients with HIV infection.

Case Presentation

We present an unusual case of purulent pericarditis resulting in cardiac tamponade due to infection with both organisms. We highlight the re-emergence of pneumococcal pericarditis in the HIV era and describe the pitfalls and challenges in the diagnosis of this condition.

Conclusion

Clinicians working in HIV endemic areas need to consider dual infection with these organisms in patients who respond inadequately to either antibiotics or anti-tuberculous therapy alone.