What is empyema thoracic?

What is empyema thoracic?

Thoracic empyema is an infectious process defined by frank pus in the pleural space. Due to the high mortality associated with this condition, health professionals should be cognizant of the multifactorial pathogenesis, different stages of the disease, and treatment modalities available.

What causes empyema in the lungs?

The most common cause of empyema is pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection of the lungs. An empyema can form when pneumonia fails to fully respond to treatment in a straightforward way.

What is the treatment for empyema?

The goal of treating empyema is to remove the infection from the lung and cure the infection. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to get rid of the infection and use a chest tube to drain the pus.

What are complications of empyema?

In rare instances, a case of complex empyema can lead to more severe complications. These include sepsis and a collapsed lung, also called a pneumothorax. The symptoms of sepsis include: high fever.

How long is recovery from empyema?

The treatment typically takes 2–6 weeks to work.

Who is at risk for empyema?

The biggest risk factor for empyema is having pneumonia. Empyema occurs most frequently in children and older adults. However, it’s fairly uncommon. In one study, it occurred in less than 1 percent of children with pneumonia.

Can empyema come back?

Objectives: Pneumonectomy in chronic pulmonary infection with empyema is associated with a high mortality rate and an increased risk of recurrent empyema. The surgical resection is technically demanding, and successful management continues to be a challenge.

What does empyema feel like?

Symptoms of empyema may include any of the following: Chest pain, which worsens when you breathe in deeply (pleurisy) Dry cough. Excessive sweating, especially night sweats.

What are the stages of empyema?

Three stages in the natural course of empyema have long been described: the exudative, fibrinopurulent, and organizing phases.