Abstract
An 80-year-old man with flu symptoms collapsed at his house and had a backache worsened over time. His family called for an ambulance. On arrival, chest X-ray showed reduced permeability of the right lung field, and truncal computed tomography (CT) suggested right multilobular empyema and right iliopsoas abscess. A blood test showed an acute inflammatory response. The patient underwent right small thoracotomy for empyema and ultrasonic-guided drainage for the right iliopsoas abscess and started the administration of antibiotics. We started the administration of doripenem by intravenous drip and then deescalated to ampicillin based on the culture results. Streptococcus intermedius was cultured from all sites. Following these treatments for three months, his general condition improved. We herein report a unique case of complicated empyema and iliopsoas abscess in which a favorable outcome was obtained by an appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Reports of multiple abscesses have been increasing recently because of the growing geriatric population and aging-related complications. It is important to search the whole body to detect multiple abscesses in cases where an abscess is detected at a single site.
1. Introduction
Empyema is important historically that remains a modern menace. Causative bacteria include Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus constellatus, and S. intermedius, in decreasing order of frequency [1]. The prompt diagnosis and treatment with appropriate systemic antibiotics and chest tube drainage are the key management approaches [2].
Iliopsoas abscess is a rare condition with varied symptomology and etiology [3], leading to delays in the diagnosis and management, which can result in a fatal outcome [3].
We herein report a unique case of complicated empyema and iliopsoas abscess in which a favorable outcome was obtained by drainage and intravenous antibiotics.
2. Case History
An 80-year-old man with flu symptoms collapsed at his house because of lightheadedness. He received a diagnosis of lumbar compression fracture at a local clinic. He obtained nerve block injection to control his backache at another medical facility. However, he lost his appetite and could not stand, and his backache condition deteriorated, so his family called for an ambulance.
He had a history of gastrectomy at 31 years old, cerebral infarction at 71 years old, lumbar spinal canal stenosis at 73 years old, and acute coronary syndrome requiring percutaneous coronary intervention at 79 years old. He had no specific family history. On arrival, his blood pressure was 142/110 mmHg, his heart rate was 92 beats per minute, his body temperature was 37.2°C, and his percutaneous oxygen saturation was 97% under room air. He complained of backache on motion. He had no sensory or motor disturbance. The main results of a blood test are shown in Table 1. Chest X-ray showed reduced permeability of the right lung field (Figure 1), and truncal computed tomography (CT) suggested right multilobular empyema and right iliopsoas abscess (Figure 2). Exploratory puncture under ultrasonic guidance resulted in confirmation of the abscess, and we performed right small thoracotomy for empyema; about 300 ml of bloody pus was removed. We then inserted a continuous double lumen catheter into the right chest. Next, we performed drainage under ultrasonic guidance for the right iliopsoas abscess, and about 100 ml of bloody pus was also removed. We inserted a catheter for drainage of the remaining iliopsoas abscess. We diagnosed him with empyema with an iliopsoas abscess and started intravenous administration of doripenem hydrate after obtaining culture samples.
Table 1.
Blood test findings on arrival.
| White blood cell | 13.5 × 109/l |
|---|---|
| Hemoglobin | 14.9 g/dl |
| Platelets | 228 × 109/l |
| Total protein | 5.9 g/dl |
| Albumin | 1.7 g/dl |
| Alkaline phosphatase | 377 IU/l |
| Aspartate aminotransferase | 85 IU/l |
| Alanine aminotransferase | 78 IU/l |
| Lactate dehydrogenase | 207 IU/l |
| γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase | 22 IU/l |
| Cholinesterase | 67 IU/l |
| Total bilirubin | 1.1 mg/dl |
| Total cholesterol | 99 mg/dl |
| Triglyceride | 66 mg/dl |
| Blood urea nitrogen | 14.8 mg/dl |
| Uric acid | 2.4 mg/dl |
| Glucose | 116 mg/dl |
| Creatinine | 0.59 mg/dl |
| Amylase | 34 IU/l |
| Creatine phosphokinase | 14 IU/l |
| Sodium | 128 mEq/l |
| Potassium | 4.5 mEq/l |
| Chloride | 90 mEq/l |
| Brain natriuretic peptide | 40.4 pg/ml |
| Ammonia | 13 pg/ml |
| Hemoglobin | A1C 5.8% |
| C-reactive protein | 21.46 mg/dl |
| Prothrombin time | 14.4 (13.3) sec |
| Activated partial thromboplastin time | 28.5 (26.2) sec |
| Fibrinogen | 727 mg/dl |
| Fibrinogen degradation products | 8.5 μg/ml |
Figure 1.
Chest X-ray findings on arrival. Chest X-ray showed reduced permeability of the right lung field.
Figure 2.
Truncal computed tomography (CT) findings on arrival. Truncal CT (axial section) suggested right multilobular empyema (a) and right iliopsoas abscess (b).
After these treatments, his general condition improved, and he was able to feed himself. On day 7, S. intermedius was cultured from all sites, and doripenem hydrate was deescalated to ampicillin based on the results of a drug sensitivity test and the possibility of switching to medicines for internal use. On day 9, all drainage tubes were removed because of an improvement in his inflammatory response. On day 16, lumbar fusion was performed for lumbar compression fracture. Following the operation, he continued rehabilitation and intravenous administration of ampicillin for three months. With these treatments, the abscess shrank. Finally, he was transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation.
3. Discussion
This is the unique case of a patient complicated with empyema and iliopsoas abscess who obtained a favorable outcome thanks to the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. There have been only two cases complicated with both empyema and iliopsoas abscess (Table 2) [4, 5]. Patients with abscess tend to have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or immunodeficiency [4], but the present patient had none of these diseases.
Table 2.
The comparison of three cases.
| Reporter | Age (years) | Sex | Primary disease | Causative bacteria | Treatment | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present case | 80 | Male | None | Streptococcus intermedius | Antibiotics Drainage | Transfer |
| Liu et al. [4] | 48 | Male | Diabetes | Streptococcus milleri | Operation Antibiotics Drainage | Discharge |
| Ito and Miura [5] | 78 | Male | Diabetes | Negative | Antibiotics Drainage | Discharge |
Iliopsoas abscess is divided into primary and secondary types. Primary psoas abscess is presumed to arise via hematogenous or lymphatic spread, and Staphylococcus aureus is the causative bacteria in over 80% of cases [6]. Secondary psoas abscess is the consequence of the direct extension of infection around organs, most commonly Crohn's disease [7]. In the present patient, empyema and iliopsoas abscess were detected at the same time based on the causative bacteria, but we failed to identify any infectious sources near the iliopsoas muscle. Accordingly, the mechanism presumed to underlie the presence of abscesses at two different sites is as follows: aspiration pneumonia was the first infection induced by the aspiration of oral secretions. Next, the aspiration pneumonia resulted in the formation of empyema. Finally, bacteria in the empyema spread to the iliopsoas muscle hematogenously. This hypothesis is based on the fact that S. intermedius is an oral Streptococcus bacteria as well as a risk factor for aspiration pneumonia [8].
Reports of multiple abscesses have been increasing recently because of the growing geriatric population and aging-related complications. Accordingly, it is important to search the whole body via CT to detect multiple abscesses in cases where an abscess is detected at a single site [9].
4. Conclusion
This is the unique case of a patient complicated with empyema and iliopsoas abscess who obtained a favorable outcome by the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Reports of multiple abscesses have been increasing recently because of the growing geriatric population and aging-related complications. It is important to search the whole body to detect multiple abscesses in cases where an abscess is detected at a single site.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Special Research in Subsidies for ordinary expenses of private schools from the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan. This work received funds from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology- (MEXT-) Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities, 2015-2019.
Conflicts of Interest
We do not have conflict of interest to declare.
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