Title: The significance of parapneumonic pleural effusions developing during antibiotic treatment for pneumonia
Abstract:Background: There are little data regarding the outcomes of parapneumonic pleural effusions that first appear during antibiotic treatment of the underlying pneumonia. Objectives: To assess the outcome...Background: There are little data regarding the outcomes of parapneumonic pleural effusions that first appear during antibiotic treatment of the underlying pneumonia. Objectives: To assess the outcome of patients who develop a parapneumonic effusion while on antibiotic therapy. Methods: Patients admitted to the John Dempsey Hospital with a discharge diagnosis of pneumonia were identified retrospectively. Patients with minimal or no effusion on admission chest radiograph who subsequently developed a parapneumonic effusion during their hospital stay were included. The characteristics of the effusions and the patient outcomes were studied. Results: Twenty-eight (3%) of 1,028 patients developed a parapneumonic effusion while in the hospital. Seventy-one percent of the parapneumonic effusions were small (occupying less than one-third of the hemithorax) and 29% were moderate (occupying between one-third and two-thirds of the hemithorax). No patients required tube thoracostomy or other drainage procedure. Conclusion: Patients with pneumonia who develop a parapneumonic effusion while receiving antibiotic therapy are unlikely to develop empyema or a complicated effusion requiring drainage.Read More
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-06-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 1
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