A challenging case of thoracic empyema caused by Prevotella spp

Abstract

We report here the case of a 49-year-old man admitted for a diagnostic work-up of bilateral lung nodules. Empyema rapidly developed after a chest computed-tomodensitometry guided lung puncture. Despite the lack of obvious aetiology after two biopsies, the diagnosis was reached by performing 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence analysis, which identified Prevotella spp in the pleural liquid. The empyema and lung nodules resolved after appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Keywords

• Thoracic empyema
• Prevotella
• 16S ribosomal DNA
• Lung nodules