Empyema in a Woman with Cystic Fibrosis: A Cautionary Tale

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease which predisposes individuals to recurrent infective exacerbations of suppurative lung disease; however, empyema is a rare complication in these patients. Empyemas secondary toStaphylococcus aureusandBurkholderia cepaciahave been described in patients with CF. We report the case of pleural empyema with mixedS. aureusandPseudomonas aeruginosainfection in a 34-year-old woman with CF, which was managed with ultrasound-guided pigtail catheter insertion, fibrinolysis, and antibiotic therapy. Physicians should be aware of this unusual complication in CF patients, especially those receiving an immunosuppressive therapy.