Key result
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and a prolonged course of antibiotics resulted in complete symptom resolution and significant chest opacity improvement in an infant with H. influenzae empyema.
Why the study?
Empyema rarely complicates pneumonia in neonates and carries high morbidity and mortality in this population.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Reports a rare case of Haemophilus influenzae empyema in a two-month-old infant successfully managed with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and antibiotics.
Supports VATS-antibiotic management in rare infant empyema; extends sparse case literature while leaving generalizability open.
Empyema can rarely complicate pneumonia in neonates; it has a high morbidity and mortality in this population. We report a two-month-old healthy term male neonate who presented with fever, mild shortness of breath and reduced feeding to a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman, in 2021. Investigations revealed the presence of Haemophilus influenzae empyema. He was managed with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and prolonged course of antibiotics. A follow-up at the end of the antibiotic course revealed complete symptom resolution with a repeated chest x-ray showing significant right chest opacity improvement. A baseline immune work-up was done and was reported to be within normal ranges.
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Al-Yazeedi et al. (2022) conducted a case report in Haemophilus influenzae empyema (n=1). Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and antibiotics was evaluated on Symptom resolution and chest x-ray improvement. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and a prolonged course of antibiotics resulted in complete symptom resolution and significant chest opacity improvement in an infant with H. influenzae empyema.
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