16.2.13
Empyema
Malawi Standard Treatment Guidelines, 6th Edition, 2023. Chapter 16, Respiratory Conditions.
Clinical Description
Due to infective process
Causes: bacterial and mycobacterial organism
Signs and Symptoms
- Fever, pleuritic chest pain, shortness of breath
- Signs of pleural effusion on physical examination +/-finger clubbing
Investigations
- Full blood count
- Blood culture
- HIV test
- Urea and creatinine
- Pleural tap: gram stain, ZN stain, GeneXpert, WBC and differential, culture and sensitivity
- CXR
Treatment
- Carry out surgical drainage (chest drain)
- Continue antibiotic therapy as for CAP for 21 to 28 days
- Rule out TB
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