Letter

Empyema thoracis is still increasing in UK children

BMJ 2006; 332 doi: 10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1333 (Published 1 June 2006)
Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:1333.1

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  1. David A Spencer (david.spencer@nuth.northy.nhs.uk), consultant respiratory paediatrician,
  2. Shaikh Mohammed Iqbal, specialist registrar in paediatrics,
  3. Asif Hasan, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon,
  4. Leslie Hamilton, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon
  1. Regional Cardiothoracic Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN
  2. Regional Cardiothoracic Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN

    EDITOR—An increase in empyema thoracis complicating pneumonia in children was reported from the West Midlands in 19971 and has since been confirmed in several other centres in the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America. Most culture positive cases in the United States are related to infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1.2 This is also the most common causative organism in the UK where most cases are culture negative as shown by using pneumococcal polymerase chain reaction and …

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