Pneumococcal pneumonia complicated with stage III empyema

Abstract

Introduction: Empyema is a severe complication of pneumonia with a high mortality rate of 10-20% in pediatric populations without pneumococcal vaccination, the responsible microorganism being Streptococcus pneumoniae; It requires timely diagnosis and pleural drainage associated with adequate antibiotic coverage.

Objective: To characterize the complications of pneumococcal pneumonia in childhood.

Materials and methods: Retrospective descriptive study, clinical case presentation.

Results: We present the case of a 4-year-old female patient who was admitted to the Emergency Department due to fever and dyspnea of several days of evolution, with the support of the ultrasound machine next to the patient's bed, allowing a diagnosis and ultrasound-guided drainage of a Complicated pneumonia with empyema, improving ventilatory mechanics and clinical evolution.

Conclusion: Pneumococcus is the main cause of empyema even in children with a complete vaccination schedule, due to the existence of more than 90 recognized serotypes of pneumococcus, of which 13 are included in the PVC13 pneumococcal vaccine.