Complicated Management of Left-Sided Loculated Empyema Secondary to Streptococcus intermedius and Prevotella in a 53-Year-Old Male

Genevieve M Palmer; Khaled K Abdel Aziz; Amna Amir; Saba Waseem

doi:10.7759/cureus.47443

Complicated Management of Left-Sided Loculated Empyema Secondary to Streptococcus intermedius and Prevotella in a 53-Year-Old Male

Cureus. 2023 Oct 21;15(10):e47443. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47443. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Authors

Genevieve M Palmer^{1

2}, Khaled K Abdel Aziz^{1

3}, Amna Amir¹, Saba Waseem¹

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, USA.
² Emergency Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, USA.
³ Internal Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Greensburg, USA.

Abstract

We present the case of a 53-year-old male with complicated left-sided parapneumonic effusion due to Streptococcus intermedius and Prevotella buccae. Management required video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and partial decortication of the left lung. Complications during the hospital stay were extensive, including sepsis, acute hypoxic respiratory failure, alcohol withdrawal, and transient ischemic attack.

Keywords: intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy; loculated pleural effusions; pyothorax; thoracic empyema; video-assisted thoracic surgery (vats).

Publication types

Case Reports