Spontaneous Bacterial Empyema in a Patient with Liver Cirrhosis.
- Author:
Young In CHOI
1
;
Young Il CHOI
;
Sung Hyun KU
;
Young Hwa CHOI
;
Sun Min LEE
;
Kwang Joo PARK
;
Sung Chul HWANG
;
Yi Hyeong LEE
;
Myung Ho HAHN
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Spontaneous bacterial empyema (SBEM);
Liver cirrhosis;
Pleural effusion
- MeSH:
Adult;
Bacterial Infections;
Empyema*;
Hepatitis;
Humans;
Liver Cirrhosis*;
Liver*;
Male;
Peritonitis;
Pleural Effusion;
Thoracic Cavity
- From:Korean Journal of Infectious Diseases
1999;31(3):262-265
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Spontaneous bacterial empyema (SBEM), a relatively rare complication of liver cirrhosis, is characterized by a bacterial infection of the transudative pleural fluid without obvious infection focus within the thoracic cavity. The analysis of pleural fluid shows characteristic 'infected transudate' with occasional identification of causative organism as in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The outcome is relatively favorable with early identification of the disease and subsequent proper an-tibiotic therapy alone. Closed horacotomy is not nece- ssary in most cases and may be even more hazardous. We report a case of SBEM in a 37-year old male patient with hepatitis B-virus associated liver cirrhosis, who recovered with antibiotic therapy alone.
