Pleural empyema due to Enterococcus species: An uncommon etiology

Abstract

We report a case of empyema due to Enterococcus faecium in a 50-year-old woman with no apparent severe immune system impairment, except for underlying thyroid disorder and hypochromic anaemia. Appropriate antibiotic therapy with parenteral amoxicillin-clavulanate with gentamicin, tube drainage and other supportive therapy resulted in a favourable outcome and the patient was discharged after 3 weeks of hospitalization. Though uncommon, the possibility of Enteroccus species should be kept in mind as a causative agent of thoracic empyema, especially in adults presenting from the community.

Keywords

• Empyema
• Enterococcus faecium
• Thoracocentesis