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

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.