Pseudomonas pericarditis in an immunocompetent newborn: unusual presentation with review of the literature.

Acute purulent pericarditis is a rare entity in the neonatal age group. The most common isolated organisms are Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Other organisms, like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been seldom implicated with only one case of Pseudomonas pericarditis reported in the neonatal period. The prognosis is often considered very poor in this age group. This article describes Pseudomonas pericarditis in a 1-week-old immunocompetent female newborn who was successfully managed with combined medical and surgical therapy. Copyright 2002 The British Infection Society.