Clark Julia
Newcastle General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6BE, UK.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2009;634:61-8. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-79838-7_6.
Empyema is apparently becoming more common, with pneumococcus being the most common pathogen detected in Europe and the USA. However, group A streptococcus and S. aureus pneumonia are individually more likely to progress to empyema. Serotype 1 pneumococcus is frequently implicated and the reasons for an apparent increase in incidence remain unclear. Management requires antibiotics and removal of pus either by fibrinolysis or primary drainage.
