Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction to Characterize the Etiology of Culture-Negative Empyema and Parapneumonic Effusion Among Alaska Native Children-2018-2023.

We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify bacterial infections in culture-negative pleural fluid specimens from Alaska Native children hospitalized with empyema. PCR identified ≥1 organism in 11 (79%) of 14 specimens. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 was detected in 6 specimens; all 6 participants had received 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.