Haemophilus influenzae pericarditis successfully treated by catheter drainage.

Surgical drainage together with antibiotic therapy is generally considered the treatment of choice for purulent pericarditis. A case of culture-proven Haemophilus influenzae pericarditis is described in a young, previously healthy adult. Successful management of his illness included placement of an indwelling pericardial catheter and intravenous antibiotics. Pericardial catheter drainage may be an alternative to surgical drainage in some cases of purulent pericarditis.