Empyema, Pleural

Infections of the pleural space are common, and patients require antibiotics and chest drain placement to evacuate the chest from the infected fluid. Chest drains can get blocked by the drainage fluid and material. For this reason, it is thought that flushing the chest drain with saline solution, can help maintain the patency of the tube. This proposed study will evaluate the impact of regular chest drain flushing on the length of time to chest tube removal and total hospitalization as well as improvement in chest imaging and the need for additional interventions on the infected space.

This retrospective observational study aims to evaluate clinical course of complicated community acquired pneumonia in children, particularly focusing on necrotizing pneumonia cases, as well as determination of etiological agents (viruses and bacteria) and its association to severity and outcomes of the disease. Furthermore, therapeutic approach, complications, short-term and long-term outcomes and the prevention of the disease are to be assessed. The study will encompass data from pediatric centers in the South-East Europe willing to participate in the study, encompassing ten-year period of time.