Bacterial Pericarditis

Alternate Names : Pyogenic Pericarditis

How is the disease diagnosed?

A healthcare provider may suspect this disease after taking a person's health history and doing a physical exam. An ECG, or electrocardiogram, and chest x-ray may show certain changes. Heart function and fluid accumulating around the heart can be seen by a special x-ray test. This test, called echocardiography, uses ultrasound waves to get an image of the beating heart.

Some of the fluid around the heart may be removed with a needle inserted through the chest. This fluid can be sent to the lab for analysis. This allows the bacteria causing the infection to be identified so that the right antibiotic can be used. Blood is usually sent to the lab for testing as well, as it also often contains the bacteria.