Study objectives To provide an updated evaluation of the bacteriology of acute thoracic
empyema for more efficacious treatment. Design The medical and microbiological records of
all patients who received a diagnosis of acute thoracic empyema were reviewed. Based on
the bacteria isolated from the pleural fluid, the patients were classified into the following four
groups: aerobic or facultative Gram-positive; aerobic Gram-negative; anaerobic; and mixed.
Setting A university-affiliated tertiary medical center. Patients and methods From January …