Methods of treatment of childhood empyema in a Turkish university hospital.

In the last ten years, 120 patients were admitted to our clinic with empyema. Empyema and effusion have been investigated for pathogenesis. Microbiologic studies of pleural aspiration fluid showed that Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen, found in 44 patients (36.7 percent). Other pathogens found were streptococci in 23 (19.2 percent) and Pneumococcus in 18 (15 percent) in sequence. No production occurred in cultures of 19 (15.8 percent) patients. In 16 (13.3 percent), Pseudomonas and Enterobacteria such as E coli, Klebsiella and Proteus occurred. Surgical intervention has been carried out depending on clinical conditions. In the 24 (20 percent) patients, pleural aspiration and lavage, decortication in 23 (19.2 percent), pulmonary resection (segmentectomy, lobectomy) in seven (5.8 percent), and only drainage and thoracic lavage in 66 (52.5 percent) have been carried out. Three patients (2.5 percent) died due to respiratory failure and septic shock, and the others have been discharged with healing.