How can i treat empyema?

Drain completely: Sometimes this can be accomplished with a simple chest tube, but often, empyema must be treated by a surgery, sometimes multiple surgeries, to literally peel the infected fluid off the surface of the lung (like a stale jello mold) and place a long term drain in the chest cavity. Antibiotics are only a part of the picture. The primary treatment is to evacuate the infected closed space.

Find early: The mainstay of treatment is early recognition, drainage, complete lung re-expansion, and targeted antibiotics. When indicated, modern thoracic surgical treatment of empyema uses minimally invasive techniques. Thoracotomy is often unnecessary (and potentially more dangerous) approach.