# Infected pericardial effusion caused by Prevotella intermedia: a rare diagnosis

## TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of pericardial effusion caused by Prevotella intermedia in China, highlighting the role of mNGS in its detection.

## Contribution

The first documented case of Prevotella intermedia in pericardial effusion in China using mNGS.

## Key findings

- Prevotella intermedia was detected in pericardial effusion using mNGS.
- Routine laboratory assays failed to detect the bacterium.
- mNGS provides early guidance for clinical management of such infections.

## Abstract

Prevotella intermedia is a Gram-negative bacterium that thrives in anaerobic environments. It presents challenges in detection through routine laboratory assays, and hitherto, there has been no documented instance of detecting this bacterium in pericardial effusion in China. Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) can boost the detection rate of this pathogen and furnish early guidance for clinical management.