Tuberc Respir Dis.  2014 Apr;76(4):160-162.

Pleural Infection and Empyema

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. yskwon@chonnam.ac.kr

Abstract

Increasing incidence of pleural infection has been reported worldwide in recent decades. The pathogens responsible for pleural infection are changing and differ from those in community acquired pneumonia. The main treatments for pleural infection are antibiotics and drainage of infected pleural fluid. The efficacy of intrapleural fibrinolytics remains unclear, although a recent randomized control study showed that the novel combination of tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease had improved clinical outcomes. Surgical drainage is a critical treatment in patient with progression of sepsis and failure in tube drainage.

Keyword

Empyema; Etiology; Drainage; Fibrinolytic Agents

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Drainage
Empyema*
Fibrinolytic Agents
Humans
Incidence
Pneumonia
Sepsis
Tissue Plasminogen Activator
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Fibrinolytic Agents
Tissue Plasminogen Activator

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