The significance of parapneumonic pleural effusions developing during antibiotic treatment for pneumonia.
BACKGROUND
There are little data regarding the outcomes of parapneumonic pleural effusions that first appear during antibiotic treatment of the underlying pneumonia.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcome of patients who develop a parapneumonic effusion while on antibiotic therapy.


METHODS
Patients admitted to the John Dempsey Hospital with a discharge diagnosis of pneumonia were identified retrospectively. Patients with minimal or no effusion on admission chest radiograph who subsequently developed a parapneumonic effusion during their hospital stay were included. The characteristics of the effusions and the patient outcomes were studied.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight (3%) of 1,028 patients developed a parapneumonic effusion while in the hospital. Seventy-one percent of the parapneumonic effusions were small (occupying less than one-third of the hemithorax) and 29% were moderate (occupying between one-third and two-thirds of the hemithorax). No patients required tube thoracostomy or other drainage procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with pneumonia who develop a parapneumonic effusion while receiving antibiotic therapy are unlikely to develop empyema or a complicated effusion requiring drainage.
Macrea
Madalina
M
Salem VA Medical Center, Virginia, USA.
Metersky
Mark L
ML
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003237:Connecticut; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents