Analysis of thirty-seven cases of pleural empyema.

A retrospective analysis of 37 pediatric patients with pleural empyema revealed that Streptoccoccus pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated pathogen (41%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (14%). Twenty-three patients were treated with thoracic drainage and systemic antibiotics, and the other 14 patients with antibiotics only. The case fatality ratio (11%), the complication rate (38%), the length of hospital stay, and the number of febrile days did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups. The immediate insertion of drainage tubes is probably not indicated in all children with pleural empyema but should be reserved for specific indications.