EMPYEMA

Course overview

EMPYEMA IS DEFINED AS A COLLECTION OF PUS IN THE PLEURAL CAVITY, GRAM-POSITIVE, OR CULTURE FROM THE PLEURAL FLUID. EMPYEMA IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH PNEUMONIA BUT MAY ALSO DEVELOP AFTER THORACIC SURGERY OR THORACIC TRAUMA. IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 32,000 CASES PER YEAR. EMPYEMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY, AROUND 20% TO 30% OF PATIENTS AFFECTED WILL EITHER DIE OR REQUIRED FURTHER SURGERY IN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER DEVELOPING EMPYEMA. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSE AND PRESENTATION OF EMPYEMA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.