Analysis of Antibiotic Treatment and Microbiological Findings and Its Implication on Outcome in Patients with Parapneumonic Effusions
Sanja Petrusevska-Marinkovic
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Clinic for Respiratory Diseases in Children “Kozle”- SkopjeRepublic of North Macedonia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of SkopjeSkopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Orcid profile 
Published Online: Nov 17, 2024
Page range: 407 - 414
Accepted: May 20, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2024.11936
Keywords
© 2024 Sanja Petrusevska-Marinkovic, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
BACKGROUND
Parapneumonic effusion (PPE), as a complication of community-acquired pneumonia, sometimes progresses into complicated PPE (CPPE) and empyema, thus becoming a significant clinical problem. There is a lack of guidelines for antibiotic therapy and reports on local microbiological status and resistance of microorganisms.
AIM
Тhe paper is focused on the analysis of antibiotic therapy and microbiological findings that are affecting patient outcomes and length of treatment.
METHODS
We analyzed 94 patients, 50 with uncomplicated PPE (UCPPE) and 44 with CPPEs.
RESULTS
More patients (59.57%) were male, average age 53.82 ± 17.5 years. Alcoholism was the most common comorbidity in patients with CPPE registered in 25% of patients. A positive pleural punctate culture was present in 31.82% of patients with CPPE.
CONCLUSION
As soon as a pleural infection is noted, patients should receive antibiotic therapy, which should be based on pleural fluid culture. Anerobic coverage is required. In this way, the development of CPPE and empyema will be prevented, and thus, mortality and long hospital stays will be reduced.