Empyema - community-acquired
- Pleural fluid should be tapped ASAP and antibiotics re-assessed if Gram stain positive.
Usual Pathogens
S. anginosus group
S. pneumoniae
Anaerobes
S. aureus/MRSA
Enterobacterales
H. influenzae
Rare:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Nocardia spp
| Empiric Therapy | Duration | |
|---|---|---|
| Ampicillin | 200mg/kg/d IV div q6h | 3 weeks |
ICU admission:
| Empiric Therapy | Dose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Vancomycin | 60mg/kg/d IV div q6h | 3 weeks |
| + | ||
| Ceftriaxone | 100mg/kg IV q24h |