How do you treat empyema?

Drainage: Empyema or pus in the space around the outside of the lungs usually needs drainage and treatment with antibiotics directed against the causative agent (bacteria, tuberculosis, etc.). Sometimes surgical intervention may be necessary.

Agree: 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.

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.