An unusual case report of Streptococcus mitis causing complex empyema thoracis

Abstract

Empyema is the collection of pus within the pleural space. The most common infective etiology of empyema is the Gram-positive organisms such as Streptococcus pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococcus mitis which is an oral commensal is known to cause serious infections in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and in immunosuppressed individuals. However, there are very few case reports of S. mitis causing a complex empyema in a middle-aged woman with type 2 diabetes. Here, we discuss the case of a 58-year-old lady, a known case of type 2 diabetes mellitus under regular medication, who presented with complaints of loin pain on the right side for 1 week and breathlessness for 3 days. On evaluation, she had complex empyema on the right side with culture showing S. mitis.

Keywords

• empyema
• streptococcus mitis
• streptokinase