Diagnosis of pleural infection: state-of-the-art

Abstract

Pleural infection remains a major healthcare problem in the 21st century. It is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in both adults and children across developed as well as developing countries. Its incidence continues to rise globally despite the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in 2000 and modern advances in medical care. The pathobiology of empyema remains relatively poorly understood and its changing bacteriology over time is important to recognize as it is likely to have future implications in terms of patient management, outcome, and healthcare costs. Many questions still remain regarding the diagnosis and management of pleural infection. This paper reviews current data on biomarkers, bacterial tests, and imaging modalities, in addition to discussing potential future directions on research in the field. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.