Pericardial fluid culture

Some people may have a cardiac monitor placed before the test to check for heart disturbances. Patches called electrodes will be placed on the chest, similar to during an ECG. A chest x-ray or ultrasound may be done before the test. The skin of the chest will be cleaned with antibacterial soap. A health care provider…

You will be asked to not eat or drink anything for several hours before the test. You may have a chest x-ray or ultrasound before the test to identify the area of fluid collection.

You will feel some pressure and discomfort when the needle is inserted into the chest and the fluid is removed. Your provider should be able to give you pain medicine so that the procedure does not hurt very much.

Your provider may order this test if you have a heart infection (myocarditis), signs of a heart sac infection, or a pericardial effusion (fluid buildup of the pericardium) with an unknown cause. The test may also be done if you have or are suspected to have pericarditis .

A normal result means no bacteria or fungi are found in the fluid sample.

Abnormal results may be due to an infection of the pericardium. The specific organism causing the infection may be identified. More tests may be needed to determine the most effective treatments.

Complications are rare but include: Heart or lung puncture Infection

Banks AZ, Corey GR. Myocarditis and pericarditis. In: Cohen J, Powderly WG, Opal SM, eds. Infectious Diseases . 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:446-455. LeWinter MM, Cremer PC, Klein AL. Pericardial diseases. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A…