Tuberculous peritonitis complicated by an intraperitoneal tuberculous abscess: A case report

BACKGROUND Tuberculous peritonitis(TBP)is a chronic,diffuse inflammation of the peritoneum caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.The route of infection can be by direct spread of intraperitoneal tuberculosis(TB)or by hematogenous dissemination.The former is more common,such as intestinal TB,mesenteric lymphatic TB,fa-llopian tube TB,etc.,and can be the direct primary lesion of the disease.CASE SUMMARY We present an older male patient with TBP complicated by an abdominal mass.The patient's preoperative symptoms,signs and imaging data suggested a poss-ible abdominal tumor.After surgical treatment,the patient's primary diagnosis of TBP complicating an intraperitoneal tuberculous abscess was established by com-bining past medical history,postoperative pathology,and positive results of TB-related laboratory tests.The patient's symptoms were significantly reduced after surgical treatment,and he was discharged from the hospital with instructions to continue treatment at a TB specialist hospital and to undergo anti-TB treatment if necessary.CONCLUSION This case report analyses the management of TBP complicated by intraperitoneal tuberculous abscess and highlights the importance of early definitive diagnosis in the hope of improving the clinical management of this type of disease.

Pleural empyema with endobronchial mass due to Rhodococcus equi infection after renal transplantation: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation is the best option for patients with end-stage renal disease.However,the need for lifelong immunosuppression results in renal transplant recipients being susceptible to various infections.Rhodococcus equi(R.equi)is a rare opportunistic pathogen in humans,and there are limited reports of infection with R.equi in post-renal transplant recipients and no uniform standard of treat-ment.This article reports on the diagnosis and treatment of a renal transplant recipient infected with R.equi 21 mo postoperatively and summarizes the charac-teristics of infection with R.equi after renal transplantation,along with a detailed review of the literature.Here,we present the case of a 25-year-old man who was infected with R.equi 21 mo after renal transplantation.Although the clinical features at the time of presentation were not specific,chest computed tomography(CT)showed a large volume of pus in the right thoracic cavity and right middle lung atelectasis,and fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed an endobronchial mass in the right middle and lower lobe orifices.Bacterial culture and metagenomic next-generation sequen-cing sequencing of the pus were suggestive of R.equi infection.The immunosup-pressive drugs were immediately suspended and intravenous vancomycin and azithromycin were administered,along with adequate drainage of the abscess.The endobronchial mass was then resected.After the patient’s clinical symptoms and chest CT presentation resolved,he was switched to intravenous ciprofloxacin and azithromycin,followed by oral ciprofloxacin and azithromycin.The patient was re-hospitalized 2 wk after discharge for recurrence of R.equi infection.He recovered after another round of adequate abscess drainage and intravenous ciprofloxacin and azithromycin.CONCLUSION Infection with R.equi in renal transplant recipients is rare and complex,and the clinical presentation lacks specificity.Elaborate antibiotic therapy is required,and adequate abscess drainage and surgical excision are necessary.Given the recurrent nature of R.equi,patients need to be followed-up closely.

Perianal tuberculous ulcer with active pulmonary,intestinal and orificial tuberculosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Orificial tuberculosis is a rare type of tuberculosis,which is easy to be misdiagnosed,and can cause great damage to the perianal skin and mucosa.Early diagnosis can avoid further erosion of the perianal muscle tissue by tuberculosis bacteria.CASE SUMMARY Here,we report a case of disseminated tuberculosis in a 62-year-old male patient with a perianal tuberculous ulcer and active pulmonary tuberculosis,intestinal tuberculosis and orificial tuberculosis.This is an extremely rare case of cutaneous tuberculosis of the anus,which was misdiagnosed for nearly a year.The patient received conventional treatment in other medical institutions,but specific treatment was delayed.Ultimately,proper diagnosis and treatment with standard anti-tuberculosis drugs for one year led to complete cure.CONCLUSION For skin ulcers that do not heal with repeated conventional treatments,consider ulcers caused by rare bacteria,such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Predictors of cerebrospinal fluid GeneXpert MTB/RIF positivity in patients with tuberculous meningitis:A prospective cohort study

Objective:To identify the clinical,laboratory,and radiological markers that could predict a positive GeneXpert result in patients suspected of tuberculous meningitis.Methods:In this prospective,observational study,patients with tuberculous meningitis were systematically evaluated.Various clinical,laboratory[including cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)microscopy,culture,and GeneXpert],and neuroimaging factors were examined.All participants were administered anti-tuberculous treatment and corticosteroids.A six-month follow-up was done to evaluate the outcome.Results:Of the 116 patients studied,54(46.6%)tested positive for GeneXpert,while 62(53.4%)were negative.Third cranial nerve involvement(OR 3.71,95%CI 1.052-13.09,P=0.04)and the presence of basal exudates on neuroimaging(OR 5.22,95%CI 2.03-13.42,P=0.001)emerged as independent predictive factors for a positive GeneXpert result.A positive CSF GeneXpert result(P=0.002)and drug resistance(P=0.004)were significantly linked to adverse outcomes.Additionally,a high score on the Medical Research Council stageⅢ(OR 5.64,95%CI 1.18-26.87,P=0.03)and elevated CSF cell counts(OR 1.002,95%CI 1.00-1.001,P=0.03)were identified as independent predictors of poor prognosis.Conclusions:Third cranial nerve involvement and the presence of basal exudates were significant indicators of a positive GeneXpert result.MRC stageⅢdisability and elevated CSF cell counts predicted poor outcomes.

Research Progress of microRNA in the Diagnosis of Tuberculous Pleurisy

Tuberculosis has become a major public health and social problem threatening human health, and a large proportion of pulmonary tuberculosis patients are associated with tuberculous pleurisy (TP). Therefore, it is of great significance to find markers with high specificity and sensitivity for the rapid and accurate diagnosis and differential diagnosis of TP under the severe background of high infectivity and mortality due to the occult nature of TP. The extraction of microRNA (miRNA) from pleural effusion satisfies the characteristics of strong operability. miRNA exists not only in cells, but also in various body fluids and participates in the pathophysiological process of various diseases including infectious diseases. miRNA is a highly specific biomarker in pleural fluid in patients with TP. Therefore, this article provides a review of the research progress of mRNA in tuberculous pleurisy.

Co-infection with Neisseria mucosa in a patient with tuberculous otitis media

Tuberculous otitis media(TOM) is a rare manifestation caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis with low incidence rates among extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases. Diagnosis is often delayed because of the presence of several clinical manifestations and the high prevalence of secondary bacterial infections. Few reports have attributed secondary bacterial infections in patients with TOM to commensal Neisseria. Thus, understanding the pathogenic mechanisms and clinical features of commensal Neisseria is important, considering its recent presentation as an infection-causing pathogen. Neisseria mucosa is a commensal inhabitant in humans and is generally considered non-pathogenic but can cause infection in rare cases. Here, we report an atypical secondary infection caused by Neisseria mucosa in an 81-year-old woman with TOM being treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. Direct purulent otorrhea smear microscopy revealed no acid-fast bacilli using Ziehl-Neelsen staining, whereas the phagocytosis of gram-negative cocci by white blood cells was confirmed using Gram staining. Otorrhea culture revealed the growth of N. mucosa. Subsequently, M. tuberculosis infection in the otorrhea was identified using a culture-based method. Vigilance is critical for the early detection of TOM to prevent further complications. This report raises awareness regarding TOM and provides insight into the pathogenicity of N. mucosa in otitis media.

Assessing the Impact of General Anesthesia and Bronchial Intubation in Conjunction with Thoracic Paravertebral Nerve Block on Cellular Immunity and Surgical Management in Tuberculous Pyothorax Patients

Objective:This study aims to investigate the impact of combining general anesthesia with bronchial intubation and thoracic paravertebral nerve block during surgery for patients with tuberculous pyothorax.Methods:Eighty patients diagnosed with tuberculous pyothorax,admitted to the hospital between January 2023 and September 2023,were randomly selected for this study.The patients were divided into control and study groups using a numerical table method.The control group underwent general anesthesia with bronchial intubation,while the study group received general anesthesia with bronchial intubation in conjunction with thoracic paravertebral nerve block.Subsequently,the patients were monitored to assess mean arterial pressure,heart rate variations,and adverse reactions to anesthesia.Results:The study group exhibited significantly lower mean arterial pressure and heart rate levels during the post-surgical incision,immediate end of surgery,and immediate extubation periods compared to the control group(P<0.05).Furthermore,the Ricker and Ramsay scores in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The combined use of general anesthesia via bronchial intubation and thoracic paravertebral nerve block has been found to stabilize mean arterial pressure and heart rate while providing effective sedation for surgical treatment in patients with tuberculous septic thorax.

Clinical profile,etiology,management and outcome of empyema thoracis associated with COVID-19 infection:A systematic review of published case reports

Objective:To explore the clinical features,diagnosis,etiology,treatment,and outcomes of COVID-19 related empyema.Methods:Using PRISMA statement,a systematic search of relevant case reports published between December 2019 and April 2023 was performed through seven databases.The collected data included demographics,clinical manifestations,diagnostic findings,treatment,and outcomes.Results:Thirty-six case reports were identified with 43 cases of empyema.The included cases had a median age of 55 years(range:12-78 years)and 79.1%(34/43)were males.The majority of cases presented during hospitalization for management of acute COVID-19 infection(29/43,67.4%)and Charlson comorbidity index<3(40/43,93.0%).Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most commonly isolated microorganism from the pleural fluid(9/43,20.9%)and 16.3%of the cases(7/43)had polymicrobial infections.Chest drainage was performed in all cases while surgery was indicated in 24 cases(55.8%).The most common complication of COVID-19-related empyema was broncho-pleural fistula(2/43,4.7%).The mortality rate was 23.3%(10/43).Sepsis and/or multi-organ failure were the most commonly reported causes of death.On univariate analysis,no statistically significant risk factor for mortality was identified.Conclusions:COVID-19-associated empyema has a variety of predisposing factors,time of presentation,clinical features,and causative organisms.Invasive or minimally invasive surgical procedures are performed more frequently than isolated chest drainage.Empyema in COVID-19 patients worsens their prognosis and can lead to serious complications.

Development of subdural empyema from subdural effusion after suppurative encephalitis:A case report

BACKGROUND Chronic subdural effusion is very common in the cranial imaging of middle-aged and older people.Herein,we report a patient misdiagnosed with subdural effusion,who was eventually diagnosed with chronic subdural empyema(SDE)caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old man was brought to our emergency room with a headache,vomiting,and disturbed consciousness.Computed tomography(CT)revealed a bilateral subdural effusion at the top left side of the frontal lobe.Cerebrospinal fluid examination after lumbar puncture indicated suppurative meningitis,which improved after anti-infective therapy.However,the patient then presented with acute cognitive dysfunction and right limb paralysis.Repeat CT showed an increase in left frontoparietal subdural effusion,disappearance of the left lateral ventricle,and a shift of the midline to the right.Urgent burr hole drainage showed SDE that was culture-positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae.His condition improved after adequate drainage and antibiotic treatment.CONCLUSION Patients with unexplained subdural effusion,especially asymmetric subdural effusion with intracranial infection,should be assessed for chronic SDE.Early surgical treatment may be beneficial.

Idiopathic colopleural fistula presenting with lung abscess and refractory empyema:A case report

BACKGROUND Colopleural fistula is a rare condition,and only a limited number of cases have been reported.Here,we report a case of idiopathic colopleural fistula in an adult without any known predisposing factors.The patient presented with a lung abscess and refractory empyema and was successfully treated with surgical resection.CASE SUMMARY A 47-year-old man with a history of lung tuberculosis,which had been completely cured 4 years ago,presented to our emergency department with a productive cough and fever for 3 d.Tracing his history,he had undergone left lower lobe segmentectomy of the left lung due to lung abscess one year ago at another hospital.However,he developed refractory empyema postoperatively despite surgical intervention including decortication and flap reconstruction.After admission,we reviewed his previous medical images and noted a fistula tract between the left pleural cavity and splenic flexure.In addition,according to his medical records,bacterial culture of the thoracic drainage showed growth of Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis.Our lower gastrointestinal series and colonoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of colopleural fistula.The patient underwent a left hemicolectomy,splenectomy,and distal pancreatectomy,and the diaphragm was repaired under our care.No further empyema recurrence was noted during follow-up.CONCLUSION Indicative signs of colopleural fistula include refractory empyema accompanied by the growth of colonic flora in the pleural fluid.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma mimics thoracic empyema: A case report

BACKGROUND Thoracic empyema and malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM)are distinct medical conditions with similar symptoms,including cough,chest pain,and breathing difficulty.We present a rare MPM case mimicking thoracic empyema.Physicians must consider MPM risks for patients exposed to building material who exhibit lobulated pleural effusions,indicating thoracic empyema.CASE SUMMARY A 68-year-old retired male construction worker suffered from shortness of breath and chest tightness over 10 d,particularly during physical activity.A poor appetite and 4 kg weight loss over the past 3 wk were also reported.Chest images and laboratory data concluded a tentative impression of empyema thoracis(right).Video-assisted thoracic surgery with decortication and delobulation(right)was conducted.The pathological report yielded an MPM diagnosis.Refractory pleural bilateral effusions and respiratory failure developed postoperatively,and the patient died three weeks after the operation.CONCLUSION Thoracic empyema and MPM are distinct medical conditions that can present similar symptoms,and video-assisted thoracic surgery facilitates an accurate diagnosis.Empyema-mimicking presentations and postoperative refractory pleural effusion may indicate a poor MPM outcome.

Diagnosis of tuberculous uveitis by the macrogenome of intraocular fluid:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Tuberculous uveitis caused by tuberculosis infection factors is common,but tuberculous uveitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis found in the intraocular fluid is rare.This report describes the use of intraocular fluid in the diagnosis of tuberculous uveitis in a patient and reviews the relevant literature.CASE SUMMARY A 24-year-old woman who was 31-wk pregnant visited Hebei Chest Hospital due to intermittent chest pain,fever,and decreased vision for 3 mo.The hydrothorax test suggested“tuberculous pleurisy”,and yellow effusion was extracted from the chest tube twice resulting in a total volume of approximately 800 mL.The patient chose to continue the pregnancy without treatment,and was hospitalized again due to high fever.Following 2 mo of anti-tuberculosis treatment,a healthy boy was delivered by cesarean section.Tuberculous uveitis was diagnosed using tuberculosis Xpert,and intraocular infection was detected by second-generation gene sequencing.Following systemic treatment,the patient gradually improved,and the corrected visual acuity of the left eye gradually increased from 0.08 to 1.0.CONCLUSION The etiology of uveitis is complex,and it is necessary to assess the patient’s general condition and apply molecular biology methods to determine the pathogenesis and guide precise treatment,to improve clinicians’awareness and standardize treatment of the disease.

Diagnostic Utility of Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Tuberculous Lymphadenitis

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of T-SPOT.TB for tuberculous lymphadenitis.Methods Suspected tuberculous lymphadenitis patients between September 2010 and September 2018 who had both peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB test and lymph node biopsy were retrospectively enrolled in this study.The cutoff value of T-SPOT.TB test for peripheral blood was set as 24 spot forming cell(SFC)/106 periphreral blood monocyte cell(PBMC)according to the instruction of testing kits.The gold standard for diagnosis of TBL was the combination of microbiology results,histopathology results and patient's response to anti-TB treatment.Diagnostic efficacy of T-SPOT.TB was evaluated,including sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,predictive values,and likelihood ratio.Results Among 91 patients who met the inclusion criteria,we excluded 8 cases with incomplete clinical information and 6 cases who lost to follow-up.According to the gold standard,there were 37 cases of true TBL(9 confirmed TBL and 28 probable TBL),30 cases of non-TBL,and 10 cases of clinically indeterminate diagnosis who were excluded from the final analyses.The T-SPOT.TB tests yielded 43 cases of positive response and 24 cases of negative response.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value(PPV),negative predictive value(NPV),positive likelihood ratio(PLR)and negative likelihood ratio(NLR)of peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB for diagnosing TBL were 89.2%,66.7%,79.1%,76.7%,83.3%,2.68 and 0.16,respectively.The number of SFCs of T-SPOT.TB in TBL patients[432(134-1264)/106 PBMCs]was higher than that in non-TBL patients[0(0-30)/106 PBMCs]with a significant difference(Z=-5.306,P<0.001).Conclusion T-SPOT.TB is a rapid and simple diagnostic test for TBL with a high sensitivity and negative predictive value.

Chronic Empyema: Aetiopathology and Management Challenges in the Developing World

Objectives: Chronic empyema thoracis (CET) is common worldwide despite widespread use of highly effective antibiotics. Also, newer technological armamentaria are available for its diagnosis and treatment. This research was performed to study the aetiopathological profile and the management challenges of CET in view of the background information stated above. Methods: It is a prospective study spanning a period of 62 months in Lagos, Nigeria. Patients’ bio-data, aetiological factors, salient clinical features, management modalities and complications of care were documented and analysed. We excluded patients who were not fit for surgery and those who could not afford surgery. Patients that were initially registered as chronic empyema patients but who later became positive for malignancy were also excluded. Results: There were 93 patients (61 males and 31 females). Age range was 4-72 years but the range 20-49 years constituted 71.0% of the studied population. Poorly treated acute chest infections was the aetiological factor in 49.5% of patients. Tuberculosis was established in 37 patients (39.8%) who were especially in social classes I and II. Decortication and pneumonectomy were done for 52.7% and 16.1% of the patients respectively. Average hospitalisation was prolonged for pneumonectomy because some patients had pneumonectomy space infections. Discusion: CET remains a worldwide problem despite widespread use of potent antibiotics. There are newer diagnostic and therapeutic armamentaria that are not readily available in developing world thereby posing major challenges to practicing surgeons.

Computed tomography-guided catheter drainage with urokinase and ozone in management of empyema

AIM To retrospectively compare the outcomes of catheter drainage,urokinase and ozone in management of empyema.METHODS Retrospective study included 209 patients(111 males and 98 females; age range 19 to 72 years) who were diagnosed with empyema.The patients were divided into 3 groups based on the therapy instituted: catheter drainage only(group I); catheter drainage and urokinase(group II); catheter drainage,urokinase and ozone(group III).Drainage was considered successful if empyema was resolved with closure of cavity,clinical symptoms were resolved,and need for any further surgical procedure was avoided.Success rate,length of stay(LOS),need for further surgery and hospital costs were compared between the three groups using the Kruskall-Wallis nonparametric test,with P < 0.05 considered significant.RESULTS Of the 209 patients with empyema,all catheters were placed successfully under CT guidance.Sixty-three patients were treated with catheters alone(group I),64 with catheters and urokinase(group II),and 82 with catheters,urokinase and ozone(group III).Group I,group II and group III had success rates of 62%,83% and 95% respectively(P < 0.05).Group I and groupII had statistically longer LOS(P < 0.05) and higher hospital costs(P < 0.05) compared to group III.There were statistically significant differences between the three groups when comparing patients who converted into further surgery.CONCLUSION The combination of chest tube drainage,urokinase and ozone is a safe and effective therapeutic modality in thoracic empyema.

Nonsurgical treatment of infratentorial subdural empyema: A case report

Infratentorial subdural empyemas are rare. It is an important neurological infection requiring immediate neurosurgical treatment. The nonsurgical treatment of subdural empyema has been reported sporadically. In this paper the authors report the nonsurgical treatment of a case of infratentorial subdural empyema. The patient with left recurrent otitis was hospitalized with symptoms of headache and fever of 3 weeks duration. Examination revealed that the patient had Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15, fever, mild cerebellar signs, no focal deficit, and abundant suppuration from the left ear. A contrast-enhanced CT scan showed an infratentorial supracerebellar hypodense fluid collection with the peripheral rim enhancement to the left of the midline that mimicked a subdural empyema. Routine hematological investigation revealed polymorphic leukocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. After the left mastoidectomy and antibiotic treatment, the patient recovered with complete resolution of the subdural empyema on CT scan.

Subdural empyema complicated with intracranial hemorrhage in a postradiotherapy nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient: A case report and review of literature

The prevalence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is higher in southern China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan than in other areas in the world. Radiotherapy is an important part of treatment for NPC patients, especially those with stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ disease. Subdural empyema is a rare but life-threatening complication in postradiotherapy NPC patients which should be paid more attention. Here, we present the case of a 64-year-old female postradiotherapy NPC patient with subdural empyema complicated with intracranial hemorrhage. She was treated by burr-hole surgery but unfortunately died because of recurrent intracranial hemorrhage. The mechanisms potentially underlying the formation of subdural empyema in postradiotherapy NPC patients and the surgical strategies that can be used in these patients are discussed in this report.

Dental focal infection-induced ventricular and spinal canal empyema: A case report

BACKGROUND Dental focal infection-induced ventricular and spinal canal empyema is an extremely rare,severe,acute disease that is clinically associated with extremely high morbidity and mortality.Traditional cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)bacterial culture is time-consuming,with a low positive rate,which frequently results in severe irreversible consequences.The next-generation sequencing technique is an emerging pathogenic microorganism detection method that can obtain results in a short time with high accuracy,thus providing great assistance in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.CASE SUMMARY This paper reports a rare case of dental focal infection-induced ventricular and spinal canal empyema.During the course of treatment at a local hospital,the patient had negative results from repeated CSF bacterial cultures and was empirically given vancomycin treatment.After transfer to our hospital,the nextgeneration sequencing technique was adopted to determine that the pathogenic microorganisms were multiple anaerobic infectious bacteria derived from the oral cavity.The antibiotic therapeutic scheme was adjusted in a timely manner,and the ventricular and spinal canal inflammation was also controlled.However,the antibiotics that had been applied at the local hospital were not able to cover all pathogenic microorganisms,which resulted in irreversible injury to the brain stem,finally leading to patient death.CONCLUSION Dental focal infection-induced ventricular and spinal canal empyema is an extremely rare,severe,acute disease with high morbidity and mortality.Any delay in diagnosis and treatment will result in irreversible consequences.The early application of the next-generation sequencing technique can obtain results in a short time and clarify a diagnosis.Appropriate antibiotic treatment combined with suitable surgical intervention is the key to managing this disease.

Burr hole evacuation for infratentorial subdural empyema

Infratentorial empyema is a life threatening condition and constitutes a neurosurgical emergency. Purulent mastoiditis and medial otitis is the most common origin and a thorough eradication of the purulent foci is mandatory. Decompression craniectomy has been primarily advised in the literature as the gold standard of the surgical treatment but burr hole evacuation when there the lack of cerebellar edema is less invasive and deemed equally efficient in the few reported cases. This is the report of a seventeen year old female who presented in a comatose state due to infratentorial empyema with acute hydrocephalus and who improved immediately after burr hole evacuation. Details of the surgical procedures are given. Mastoidectomy was completed, with the patient under combined antibiotherapy. She leads a normal life now, more than six years after surgery.

Should Empyema with or without Necrotizing Pneumonia in Children Be Managed Differently?

Background: Necrotizing pneumonia (NP) is an increasing lung infection mostly associated with pleural empyema. Objectives: We aimed to compare children with empyema with and without concomitant NP, in terms of risk factors, management and outcome. Methods: We retrospectively included children hospitalized between 2005-2014 with empyema to whom a computed tomography was performed. We recorded patient characteristics, clinical, biological (blood and pleural fluid) and radiological findings, medical and surgical treatments, and clinical, radiological and functional follow-up. Results: 35 children with empyema were included, including 25 with a concomitant NP. Patients with or without NP were undistinguishable, in terms of characteristics, symptoms at admission or detected pathogens. Pleural leucocytes were significantly higher in the empyema group (p = 0.0002) as pleural LDH (p = 0.002), and pleural/blood LDH ratio (p = 0.0005). Medical and surgical managements were similar between both groups. Complications occurred in 1/10 children with empyema alone (pneumatocele) and 5/25 with concomitant NP (bronchopleural fistula (n = 3), lobectomy, pneumothorax). The hospital length of stay and delay for chest X-ray normalization were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Except for minor biological parameters, the presence of concomitant NP in case of empyema does not change the presentation, clinical features, management and outcome, suggesting that the presence of additional NP to empyema should not be managed differently. Therefore, in case of empyema with suspected concomitant NP, chest CT should probably be restricted to abnormal worsening or when mandatory for surgical treatment.