Campylobacter fetus pericarditis in a patient with beta-thalassemia: case report and review of the literature

S S Kanj; G F Araj; A Taher; L B Reller

doi:10.1046/j.1198-743x.2001.00300.x

Campylobacter fetus pericarditis in a patient with beta-thalassemia: case report and review of the literature

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2001 Sep;7(9):510-3. doi: 10.1046/j.1198-743x.2001.00300.x.

Authors

S S Kanj¹, G F Araj, A Taher, L B Reller

Affiliation

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, PO Box 113-6044, Beirut, Lebanon. [email protected]

PMID: 11678937
DOI: 10.1046/j.1198-743x.2001.00300.x

Abstract

A case of pericardial effusion due to Campylobacter fetus in a patient with thalassemia is presented. The patient failed to respond to ceftriaxone and clarithromycin despite in vitro susceptibility, but improved after pericardiectomy and ampicillin. Pericarditis due to C. fetus has rarely been reported. A high index of suspicion is essential to recognise this organism, because of its special microbiological characteristics.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Campylobacter Infections / diagnosis
Campylobacter Infections / microbiology*
Campylobacter Infections / therapy
Campylobacter fetus / isolation & purification*
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Pericardial Effusion / diagnosis
Pericardial Effusion / microbiology*
Pericardial Effusion / therapy
Pericarditis / diagnosis
Pericarditis / microbiology*
Pericarditis / therapy
Treatment Outcome
beta-Thalassemia / complications*