Parapneumonic empyema deaths during past century, Utah.
Bacterial pneumonia with empyema is a serious complication of influenza and commonly resulted in death during the 1918 influenza pandemic. We hypothesize that deaths caused by parapneumonic empyema are increasing in Utah once again despite advances in critical care and the availability of antimicrobial drugs and new vaccines. In this study, we analyzed the historical relationship between deaths caused by empyema and influenza pandemics by using 100 years of data from Utah. Deaths caused by empyema have indeed increased from 2000-2004 when compared with the historic low death rates of 1950-1975. Vaccine strategies and antimicrobial drug stockpiling to control empyema will be important as we prepare for the next influenza pandemic.
Bender
Jeffrey M
JM
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA. jeffrey.bender@hsc.utah.edu
Ampofo
Krow
K
Sheng
Xiaoming
X
Pavia
Andrew T
AT
Cannon-Albright
Lisa
L
Byington
Carrie L
CL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000266:history / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000401:mortality*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000401:mortality; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000266:history* / Q000401:mortality; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000266:history* / Q000401:mortality; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology