Empyema necessitatis due to Aspergillus fumigatus

BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Dec 1:2014:bcr2014206047. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2014-206047.

Abstract

We present an extremely rare case of empyema necessitatis secondary to Aspergillus fumigatus infection. A 58-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a painful skin rash on the right thorax. Three fistulas communicating with the pleural space were found. Since she did not show a clinical improvement despite antituberculous and antibacterial treatment, we looked for other causes. Pleural fungus culture showed A. fumigatus and chest wall biopsy revealed numerous fungal hyphae. Treatment with necrotic tissue debridement and antifungal agents was successful.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Aspergillosis / complications
  • Aspergillosis / diagnosis*
  • Aspergillosis / microbiology
  • Aspergillosis / therapy
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / isolation & purification*
  • Debridement
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Empyema / complications
  • Empyema / diagnosis*
  • Empyema / microbiology
  • Empyema / therapy
  • Exanthema / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Thorax

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents