Clinical outcome of parapneumonic empyema in children treated according to a standardized medical treatment.

Unlabelled: Treatment of parapneumonic empyema (PE) consists of intravenous antibiotics and, in case of large effusions and persisting fever, pleural chest drain (±intrapleural fibrinolytics) or video-assisted surgical intervention. We standardized the treatment for PE in our tertiary care center choosing a first-step nonsurgical approach. The aim was to evaluate the need for surgery and to collect data on disease course, outcome, and microbiology.