A Practical Approach to Pleural Infection.

Pleural infection encompasses a spectrum of disease that can present significant challenges in clinical practice. Despite better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and microbiology, outcomes for patients remain poor. The use of antibiotics and chest tube drainage continue to be the mainstay of treatment, with surgery often reserved for those not responding to initial medical therapy. However, at present, the optimal management strategy for individual patients-including the role of early surgical and/or intrapleural therapy-is not clear. In this article, we provide an overview of the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of pleural infection, highlighting current concepts and key practice points to aid the reader in caring for this important and often complex group of patients.