Spontaneous bacterial empyema in cirrhosis.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in decompensated cirrhotic patients develops when bacteria invade preexising ascites. It is probable that other transudates such as pleural effusions can be afected in a similar manner. This paper describes a cirrhotic patient with long-standing pleural effusion in whom Escherichia coli caused a spontaneous bacterial empyema. The ascitic fluid was sterile.