Empyema necessitans complicating a mild COVID‐19 infection in a young immunocompetent patient

Abstract

Key Clinical Message COVID‐19 infection can be complicated by secondary bacterial infections including pneumonia and empyema resulting in worse outcomes. Empyema management includes empirical antibiotic therapy and drainage with a favorable prognosis in most cases. Abstract Empyema necessitans is a rare complication of poorly or uncontrolled empyema thoracis resulting in the dissection of pus through the soft tissues and skin of the chest wall resulting in a fistula between the pleural cavity and the skin. Previous reports indicate that secondary bacterial pneumonia can complicate the course of a COVID‐19 infection even in immunocompetent patients resulting in worse outcomes. Management of empyema includes empirical antibiotic therapy and drainage with a favorable prognosis in most cases.

Keywords

• COVID‐19
• empirical antibiotic therapy
• empyema necessitans
• immunocompetent patient
• surgical drainage