RESUMEN

Empyema necessitatis (EN) is an exceedingly rare complication of empyema. EN refers to the expansion and progression of an empyema beyond the thoracic cavity toward the skin wall. Herein, we present the case of a man with EN and detail his clinical course. A 42-year-old male with a prior history of substance use presented to the emergency department with three weeks of fever, cough, and progressively worsening pain overlying the left anterior chest wall. An empiric antibiotic regimen of cefepime, metronidazole, and vancomycin was initiated. Chest X-ray, ultrasound, and chest CT demonstrated a large region of loculation suspicious for a loculated empyema. On day 4 of admission, he underwent a video-assisted thoracoscopy followed by a left minithoracotomy, which confirmed the diagnosis of EN. The patient was discharged on hospital day 16 with marked clinical improvement and monitored for a year via an outpatient clinic. Symptoms did not recur, and there was complete resolution of EN. More predominant in the pre-antibiotic era with the progression of uncontrolled infections, EN is less commonly seen today. As such, EN requires a high degree of clinical suspicion for timely detection and management. Our case illustrates the importance of early intervention with antibiotics and surgical drainage.

RESUMEN

Resumen El empiema necessitatis (EN) constituye una muy rara complicación de un empiema pleural en el cual la infección se extiende a los tejidos blandos adyacentes. La etiología por anaerobios es muy infrecuente y se da en el curso de infecciones crónicas. Se presenta el primer caso de empiema necessitatis por Campylobacter rectus. La identificación de este agente se efectuó por espectrometría de masas (MALDI-TOF MS) y su sensibilidad antimicrobiana se determinó por el método epsilométrico.

Abstract Empyema necessitatis (EN) is a very rare complication of a pleural empyema, in which the infection extends to adjacent soft tissues. Anaerobic bacteria are very rare etiologic agents of EN, which occurs in the course of chronic infections. We present the first case of empyema necessitatis caused by Campylobacter rectus. Bacterial identification was carried out by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the epsilometer method.

RESUMEN

Empyema necessitatis (EN) is a very rare complication of a pleural empyema, in which the infection extends to adjacent soft tissues. Anaerobic bacteria are very rare etiologic agents of EN, which occurs in the course of chronic infections. We present the first case of empyema necessitatis caused by Campylobacter rectus. Bacterial identification was carried out by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the epsilometer method.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Empyema necessitans is a relatively rare clinical entity in which the empyema extends through the parietal pleura into the adjacent soft tissue and musculature of the chest wall. It usually occurs due to inadequate treatment of a primary lung infection. Aggregatibacter (formerly Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans is a facultative anaerobic gram-negative coccobacillus that is part of the normal oral flora. Infections due to this organism usually result from aspiration in conjunction with dental disease or trauma to the oral mucosa resulting in pneumonia or empyema. It often coinfects with Actinomyces and is known to cause empyema necessitans. Cases of monomicrobial empyema necessitans due to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in adults have rarely been reported with four such publications found on review of the literature. We present a patient with severe periodontitis who developed empyema necessitans due to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans likely from aspiration complicated by pyomyositis of the right triceps brachii and a left posterior thigh abscess.

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: We report the first case of empyema necessitatis (EN) with pleural fistula and septic arthritis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae following blunt trauma. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: A 46-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and a history of recent right rib fracture and right knee bruising presented with dyspnea and right knee pain. He was diagnosed with EN and underwent chest drainage, followed by open-window thoracotomy. Septic arthritis occurred on day 8 after thoracotomy. The chest wall wound healed after 3 months. DISCUSSION: EN is a rare complication of empyema. In this patient, infection was invasive, causing necrotizing pneumonia with a pleural fistula. To our knowledge, there are no reports of group B streptococcal EN with a pleural fistula resulting from blunt chest trauma. CONCLUSION: Group B streptococcal infection might become invasive in immunocompromised patients, so careful follow-up for those patients is important.

RESUMEN

Pleural empyema necessitatis caused by Actinomyces meyeri is a rare but severe infection. A. species predominantly A. meyeri and A. israelii represent the second most common pathogen for empyema necessitans after mycobacteria. The incidence is reported in the literature to be 1:300,000. Men are thrice more likely to be affected than women. Pathogenetically, an infection can be triggered by aspiration in immunocompromised individuals which leads to an atelectasis with pneumonitis. In two cases, a 38-year-old construction worker and a 61-year-old woman with ulcerative breast carcinoma, who presented to the local emergency department with a painful swelling of the left chest, diagnostic workup revealed a pleural empyema necessitatis of the left chest. An antibiotic treatment was initiated with piperacillin/tazobactam and sulbactam/ampicillin, respectively. Temporally vacuum-dressing therapy was initiated after surgical debridement. In the course of the procedure, a reconstruction of tissue damage was feasible. The patients were recovered completely and discharged with an oral antibiotic treatment (amoxicillin) for 6 and 12 months, respectively. Thoracic actinomycosis is a relatively uncommon and traditionally chronic, indolent infection secondary to pulmonary infection with A. species . Surgical treatment is generally reserved for cases failing to resolve with antibiotic therapy. Early diagnosis, prompt debridement, and narrow spectrum ß-lactam antibiotics can result in complete resolution of infection and good prognosis.

RESUMEN

Chest wall masses in the pediatric population are relatively rare, and the differential diagnosis predominantly includes neoplastic soft tissue or osseous tumours, either benign or malignant in etiology, although local infectious processes represent additional diagnostic possibilities. Among recent immigrants, a more diverse array of less commonly observed pathogens warrant consideration. Here, we present a case of a chest wall mass in an immunocompetent child who had recently immigrated from the Philippines.

Les masses de la paroi thoracique sont relativement rares dans la population pédiatrique, et le diagnostic différentiel touche surtout les tumeurs néoplasiques des tissus mous ou des os, d'étiologie bénigne ou maligne, même si les processus infectieux locaux s'ajoutent aux possibilités diagnostiques. Chez des immigrants récents, de nombreux agents pathogènes moins fréquents méritent d'être envisagés. Les chercheurs présentent un cas de masse de la paroi thoracique chez un enfant immunocompétent récemment immigré des Philippines.

RESUMEN

El empiema necessitans o necessitatis es una complicación poco frecuente de un empiema no tratado o controlado inadecuadamente. Se caracteriza por la disección de pus a través del tejido blando y de la piel de la pared torácica. La colección de pus se rompe y se comunica con el exterior, formando una fístula entre el espacio pleural y la piel. Se presenta el caso clínico de un paciente masculino de 3 años de edad cuyos síntomas iniciaron una semana antes de su hospitalización. Presentaba tos productiva, sin predominio de horario, fiebre no cuantificada y rinorrea hialina. Posteriormente, desarrolló un aumento de volumen en cara lateral del hemitórax izquierdo asociado a hiporexia y decaimiento general por lo que la madre consultó y fue hospitalizado. Al realizar el examen físico se encontraba en posición antiálgica adoptando el decúbito lateral izquierdo y con disminución de la movilidad de dicho hemitórax. Tenía taquipnea, pero no tiraje intercostal ni subcostal. Era evidente el aumento de volumen en la cara lateral del hemitórax izquierdo con signos inflamatorios como eritema, aumento de temperatura y dolor. Se auscultó una disminución de los ruidos respiratorios en el hemitórax izquierdo. El día de su hospitalización, en la biometría hemática se reportó leucocitosis con desviación hacia la izquierda y elevación de los reactantes de fase aguda. En la radiografía de tórax se evidencia una opacidad total izquierda, con borramiento del ángulo costodiafragmático ipsilateral, cambios inflamatorios de tejidos blandos de dicho hemitórax y desplazamiento contralateral del mediastino. Por los datos clínicos y los hallazgos radiográficos se sospechó un empiema necessitatis y este diagnóstico fue confirmado al realizar un ultrasonido y una tomografía axial computarizada contrastada de tórax. Se efectuó el drenaje de colección en la pared torácica y se colocó un tubo pleural. En la muestra de líquido pleural se aisló un Staphylococcus aureus sensible a oxacilina y clindamicina por lo que se inició el tratamiento con estos antibióticos El paciente cursó con buena evolución clínica y se dio egreso, con seguimiento en la consulta externa de neumología. Acudió a la cita de control y estaba asintomático y con un examen físico normal y en la radiografía de tórax no se encontraron alteraciones pleuropulmonares.

Empyema necessitans or necessitatis is a rare complication of untreated or inadequately controlled empyema. It is characterized by the dissection of pus through the soft tissue and the skin of the chest wall. The pus collection breaks and links with the exterior, forming a fistula between the pleural space and the skin. We present the clinical case of a 3-year-old male patient whose symptoms started a week before his hospitalization with a productive cough, without a predominance of hours, unquantified fever and hyaline rhinorrhea. Subsequently, he developed an increase in volume on the lateral side of the left hemithorax associated with hyporexia and general decline, so the mother consulted, and he was hospitalized When performing the physical examination, he was in an antalgic position adopting the left lateral decubitus position and with decreased mobility of said hemithorax. He had tachypnea but not intercostal or subcostal drainage. The increase in volume on the lateral side of the left hemithorax was evident with inflammatory signs with erythema, increased temperature and pain. A decrease in respiratory sounds in the left hemithorax was auscultated. On the day of his hospitalization, blood count showed leukocytosis with deviation to the left and elevation of acute phase reactants. Chest X-ray revealed a total left opacity, with effacement of the ipsilateral costodiaphragmatic angle, inflammatory soft tissue amnion of said hemithorax and contralateral mediastinal displacement. Empyema necessitatis was suspected due to clinical data and radiographic findings, and this diagnosis was confirmed by performing an ultrasound and a contrast computed tomography of the thorax. The collection drainage was performed in the thoracic wall and a pleural tube was placed. In the pleural fluid sample, a Staphylococcus aureus sensitive to oxacillin and clindamycin was isolated, so treatment with these antibiotics was initiated. The patient had a good clinical course and was discharged with follow-up in the outpatient clinic of pulmonology. He went to the control appointment and was asymptomatic with a normal physical examination and no pleuropulmonary alterations were found in the chest X-ray.

RESUMEN

Abstract: We report herein a case of thoracic infection due to Nocardia nova following lung re-transplantation performed for emphysema related to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. The infection extended from the lung into the pleural space, thoracic wall, and mediastinum, presenting as pericarditis and empyema necessitatis. Nocardia nova was identified by 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. According to a literature search of PubMed, LILACS and MEDLINE databases, we describe herein the first case of empyema necessitatis caused by N. nova species in a transplanted patient.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Late-onset post-pneumonectomy empyema necessitatis can occur many years after the surgery and is a life-threatening condition. A 58-year-old male presented with empyema necessitatis 18 years after undergoing pneumonectomy. He was successfully treated with a modified two-stage Clagett procedure and ambulatory negative pressure as the bridge between the stages. The 72-month follow-up was uneventful. The complete obliteration of the rigid and wide residual postpneumonectomy cavity was necessary to avoid re-recurrence of the infection.

RESUMEN

Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 73 años, agricultor, quien consulta por cuadro de tres meses de tos húmeda con expectoración verdosa, posteriormente hemoptoica, de predominio matutino, asociado a dolor lumbar izquierdo. Se documentó en imágenes empiema que se comunica con región lumbar izquierda, constituyendo así un cuadro de empiema necessitatis con presentación poco usual como lo es el drenaje hacia espacio paravertebral. (Acta Med Colomb 2013; 38: 28-31).

We present the case of a 73-year-old farmer, who consults for a 3 months clinical picture of wet cough with greenish sputum, subsequently hemoptoic predominantly in the mornings, associated with left lumbar pain. We documented in images empyema communicating with the left lumbar region, constituting an empyema necessitatis picture with unusual presentation as is the drainage to the paravertebral space. (Acta Med Colomb 2013; 38: 28-31).

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Empyema necessitatis is an empyema that spreads outside of the pleural space involving the chest wall. Tuberculosis is the most common cause. It occurs in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Due to the long latency period and the paucity of symptoms, diagnosis can be challenging. Clinicians must have a high awareness of this disease, especially in patients from endemic regions. The disease is treatable with surgical and medical interventions. Failure to diagnose can lead to grave consequences for both the individual patient and public health. This is particularly true in endemic regions where controlling the spread of TB is challenging. We report a rare presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis in an otherwise healthy 72-year-old USA immigrant from Thailand. He presented with a painless, chronic chest wall swelling with minimal systemic symptoms. Imaging revealed empyema necessitatis. Histopathology could not give a definitive diagnosis because the tissue was too necrotic. Despite negative acid-fast staining, sputum cultures were positive for tuberculosis. The case presentation is followed by a brief review of the current relevant literature. This case highlights the importance of clinical suspicion and increased awareness for this silent but serious infection.

RESUMEN

Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) have emerged as an important pathogen in lung infection. NTM infection is rarely accompanied by pleural involvement, and empyema necessitatis caused by NTM is very uncommon. We report a very rare case of Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease with empyema accompanied by empyema necessitatis. The patient was successfully treated by percutaneous tube drainage of the empyema and empyema necessitatis with aggressive antibiotics treatment and surgical resection.