Pancarditis in a five-year-old boy affecting tricuspid valve and ventricular septum

Alternative Antimicrobial Irrigation Strategies for the Treatment of Infections in Children: A Review of the Existing Literature

As a synergistic treatment approach with systemic antimicrobial therapy or a systemic antibiotic-sparing strategy, the local administration of antimicrobial agents has been proposed as an alternative route for complicated infections. With the rationale of concentrating the active principle in the desired target site, avoiding potentially toxic systemic levels and bypassing anatomical and physiological barriers, local irrigation or infusion of antibiotics may effectively shorten the antimicrobial therapy course and reduce both infection-related and systemic therapy-related complications. Although evidence from the adult population supports its use in selected patients with an acceptable safety profile, data specifically focused on the pediatric population are limited. To provide a rapid and easily accessible tool for clinical practice, we synthesized the most relevant evidence on the use of local antimicrobial agents in common severe infections in children: meningitis, mediastinitis, pleural infections, recurrent urinary infections, and peritonitis. A literature search was performed using predefined combined keywords through an electronic research database (PubMed). Described molecules, dosages, routes, treated age groups, and related efficacy have been summarized for prompt application to clinical practice. It should, however, be noted that the evidence for the pediatric population remains limited, and the local administration of several molecules remains off-label. A careful multidisciplinary and patient-tailored evaluation, as well as a rational use of available guidelines, should always be the basis of clinical decision making in settings where local administration of antibiotics may be considered.

Aseptic presentation of interventricular septal abscess with progressive heart block: a case report

BACKGROUND

Infective endocarditis can progress to an intracardiac abscess in 20% to 30% of cases, with interventricular septal abscess (IVSA) being one of the rare complications usually presenting with sepsis. We present a case of IVSA presenting with a new-onset second-degree heart block, which rapidly progressed to a complete heart block.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 80-year-old Caucasian female with a past medical history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented with exertional chest pain, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath with telemetry and electrocardiogram revealing persistent Mobitz type II second degree atrioventricular block. The rest of the vitals were normal. As she was being planned for a pacemaker placement, she spiked a temperature of 103F. Blood cultures grew methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and appropriate antibiotics were initiated. Transthoracic echocardiogram was grossly normal. However, transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a heterogeneous extension of an echodensity from the aortic root, along the aorto-mitral cushion and into the interventricular septum, indicating an interventricular septal abscess. Her course was complicated by altered mental status, with computed tomography of the brain revealing hypodense regions in the left lentiform nucleus and anterior caudate nucleus representing acute/subacute stroke. Surgery was deferred as she was deemed a poor candidate. She succumbed to her illness on day 6 of hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Intracardiac abscesses should be considered a possible initial differential in patients with progressive heart block despite aseptic presentation and no risk factors.

Complicated community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pancarditis with cardiac pseudoaneurysm in a healthy child: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Infective endocarditis is more prevalent among children with congenital heart diseases as compared to healthy children. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a causative pathogen of infective endocarditis, and it rarely causes pancarditis in healthy children. The clinical decision for surgical intervention of left-sided heart vegetation is challenging despite the availability of management guidelines.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report a case of a previously healthy 12-year-old girl who presented with aggressive endocarditis secondary to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, with left-sided vegetation, mitral valve regurgitation, pancarditis, brain abscess, and stroke. She underwent an emergency vegetectomy and mitral valve repair. Three weeks after the first surgery, she developed left ventricular pseudoaneurysm that required life-saving surgical intervention. The child gradually recovered and was discharged home with acceptable cardiac function and mild neurological deficit.

DISCUSSION

Pancarditis, especially with an aggressive progression resulting in intracardiac pseudoaneurysm, is rarely reported in healthy children. The definition of the optimal timing of surgical intervention in pediatric infective endocarditis management is lacking and the clinical decision-making process remains challenging. The development of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is serious and also needs an immediate intervention, given the high risk of its rupture and subsequent devastating outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an etiology for aggressive infective pancarditis in a healthy child, leading to an intracardiac pseudoaneurysm. Emergency surgical interventions should be considered in children with left-sided vegetation to prevent devastating consequences.

Pancarditis: an unusual complication of a group B streptococcal infection

Pancarditis is a rare condition with a poor prognosis combining endocarditis, myocarditis with abscess formation, and purulent pericarditis. Diagnosis is often delayed and the clinical signs are predominantly those of the embolic complications. Literature is scarce. We present a unique and rare case of pancarditis, complicating a Streptococcal B infection in an immunocompetent, healthy, 54 year-old woman. The evolution was favourable under medical therapy alone and thanks to multimodality cardiac imaging diagnosis and follow-up.

Bacterial pancarditis with myocardial abscess: successful surgical intervention in a 14-month-old boy

A 14-month-old boy with a structurally normal heart presented with signs of cardiac tamponade caused by purulent pericarditis. During his hospital stay, mitral and tricuspid valve endocarditis developed, and a ventricular septal abscess expanded despite appropriate, prolonged antibiotic therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The day before scheduled surgical correction, the abscess ruptured, creating a septal aneurysm. Surgical intervention resulted in an excellent outcome. Throughout the patient's 67-day hospitalization, the use of echocardiography was crucial in monitoring and diagnosis. In addition to reporting this case, we discuss our diagnostic and treatment considerations. To our knowledge, this is only the 4th report of S. aureus bacterial pancarditis with myocardial abscess.