title: Pyogenic lung infections: factors for predicting clinical outcome of lung abscess and thoracic empyema.
abstract: Lung abscess and thoracic empyema continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality despite appropriate antibiotic therapy and various options for drainage of empyema. Multiple factors, including the patient's general state of health, the presence of underlying disease, the virulence of the pathogen responsible, and the promptness of drainage of empyema, appear to dictate the clinical outcome. However, the available data are derived from uncontrolled, retrospective studies and the high morbidity and mortality rates underscore the need for large prospective studies to better evaluate factors that may predict the clinical outcome of these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Regional Infectious Disease Unit, University Hospital, Aintree, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Mwandumba
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Beeching
mesh_terms: D004322:Drainage; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome