Background and objective:

Fungal empyema is a rare entity which is associated with high mortality. It is mostly seen in immune-compromised hosts. However, there is limited data available on fungal empyema from developing countries regarding risk factors, treatment, and outcome. This study was conducted to determine the risk factors, clinical features, treatment, and outcome of fungal empyema.

Methods:

A retrospective observational study was performed on proven fungal empyema cases, admitted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan during January 2018 to May 2021. We excluded all those patients with polymicrobial bacterial and fungal empyema or with negative pleural fluid cultures. A preformed questionnaire was filled out for each case.

Results:

A total of 26 patients were diagnosed with fungal empyema with a mean age of 43.6 ± 20.3 years. Of these, 16 (61.5%) patients were male. Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent comorbidity (n = 11, 42.3%), followed by hypertension (n = 9, 34.6%), malignancy (n = 6, 23.1%), and asthma (n = 1, 3.8%). Ten (38.5%) patients had multiple comorbidities. Candida spp. was isolated in 21 (80.8%) patients and Aspergillus spp. in 7 (26.9%) patients. Fusarium spp. was isolated from one (3.9%) patient. Video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery was done in 14 (53.8%) patients and 12 (46.1%) patients were managed with tube thoracostomy. Twenty-one (80.8%) patients received antifungal agents. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 38.5% (n = 10) and all patients developed respiratory failure. Clinical improvement was seen in 16 (61.5%) patients.

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that fungal empyema has a poor outcome as almost one-third of our patients died. Early diagnosis and intervention can improve outcome.

Plain language summary

Fungal Empyema; A Case series from Pakistan

• This study was carried out as there are limited data available globally on fungal empyema.

• We conducted a retrospective case study of 26 patients and our findings suggest that the fungal empyema has a poor outcome.

• One third of our patients died during hospital stay.

• Early diagnosis and treatment are important in fungal empyema.

• Diabetes mellitus was found as a possible risk factor for fungal empyema, which should be evaluated further in future studies.

Search results

Fungal empyema thoracis,a rare but an emerging entity: a retrospective case series from Pakistan