title: Parapneumonic effusions and empyema.
abstract: Thoracic empyema remains a significant medical problem in 1996. Patients in whom empyema develops suffer significant morbidity, frequently require prolonged hospitalizations, and are at an increased risk of death. In this review of parapneumonic effusions and empyema, four topics are discussed: diagnosis of empyema, the organisms responsible for empyema, the methods used for treatment, and the results from animal models of empyema.
authors.affiliation: Long Beach VA Medical Center, Department of Medicine, CA 90822, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sasse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002423:Cause of Death; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013906:Thoracoscopy
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents