Causes of pleural empyema | What is a pleural empyema?

Causes of pleural empyema

The most common cause of a pleural empyema is a bacterial inflammation of the leaves of the pleura. Normally, the pleura is a closed space where neither air nor bacteria can enter. Bacteria can only cause an inflammation there if they reach one of the pleura‘s leaves from the outside or inside, for example via the lungs.

Most often this happens in the context of pneumonia. If the inflamed area of the lung is close to the pleural leaf resting on the lung, the inflammation can spread into the pleural cavity. The infected area can produce a purulent inflammatory secretion that empties between the pleural leaves and leads to an effusion in the pleura, which is called “empyema“.

Other ways in which pathogens can be introduced into the pleura include blood poisoning, a previous operation, a tear in the esophagus or an external injury, for example from a stab wound in the chest area. A pulmonary abscess is an encapsulated area in the lung where there is inflamed tissue. The abscess is often a consequence of acute pneumonia, but does not itself lead to an acute clinical picture.

The lung abscess only becomes dangerous if parts of the encapsulated inflammation spread to the rest of the lung, the airways or the pleura. The latter can lead to a pleural empyema as a consequence.

  • Lung abscess – What is behind it?
  • What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a very common clinical picture, which can be a dangerous disease, especially in immunocompromised, old or very young people.

As a rule, pneumonia can be caused by all bacterial, viral, parasitic or other pathogens, with bacterial and viral inflammation being the most common and causing the most acute courses. If the pneumonia spreads rapidly in the chest area, it can spread to other organs, attack the pleura and even cause life-threatening blood poisoning. A pleural empyema is therefore a common complication of acute pneumonia. In order to avoid such complications, it is very important to detect pneumonia immediately and introduce appropriate treatment. For this reason the following article also plays an important role: Signs of pneumonia