Selected characteristics of empyema-related hospitalisations by age group and associated pathogens in the USA, 1996–2008
| Age and empyema group | Age (years) | Thoracentesis* (%) | Length of stay (days) | In-hospital case fatality (%) |
| <18 years | ||||
| Pneumococcal | 4.6 (4.4 to 4.9) | 89.1 (86.6 to 91.6) | 13.2 (12.6 to 13.9) | 0.6 (0.2 to 1) |
| Streptococcal (non-pneumococcal) | 5.3 (4.9 to 5.7) | 90.1 (87.4 to 92.9) | 12.8 (11.9 to 13.6) | 0.8 (0 to 1.5) |
| Staphylococcal | 4.2 (3.7 to 4.7) | 86.6 (83.6 to 89.6) | 16.3 (15.1 to 17.6) | 0.7 (0 to 1.4) |
| Other/unknown | 5.5 (5.3 to 5.7) | 81.3 (78.9 to 83.7) | 10.2 (9.8 to 10.6) | 0.2 (0.1 to 0.4) |
| 18–39 years | ||||
| Pneumococcal | 31.1 (30.6 to 31.6) | 92.2 (90.1 to 94.4) | 16.8 (15.5 to 18) | 2.5 (1.3 to 3.8) |
| Streptococcal (non-pneumococcal) | 30.3 (29.7 to 31) | 95.5 (93.7 to 97.3) | 15.3 (14.2 to 16.4) | 2.3 (1 to 3.5) |
| Staphylococcal | 30.6 (30.1 to 31.2) | 90.3 (87.9 to 92.6) | 18 (16.9 to 19.2) | 2.8 (1.4 to 4.1) |
| Other/unknown | 30.8 (30.5 to 31) | 90.5 (89.4 to 91.7) | 13 (12.5 to 13.4) | 2.1 (1.5 to 2.6) |
| 40–64 years | ||||
| Pneumococcal | 52 (51.7 to 52.4) | 93.3 (92.1 to 94.6) | 17.8 (17.1 to 18.5) | 6.1 (4.9 to 7.3) |
| Streptococcal (non-pneumococcal) | 52.3 (51.9 to 52.7) | 92.9 (91.5 to 94.2) | 16.6 (15.8 to 17.3) | 4.4 (3.4 to 5.5) |
| Staphylococcal | 52 (51.7 to 52.4) | 84.6 (82.8 to 86.5) | 21.7 (20.7 to 22.6) | 8.9 (7.4 to 10.4) |
| Other/unknown | 51.8 (51.6 to 51.9) | 87.3 (86.5 to 88.1) | 14 (13.7 to 14.2) | 4.4 (4 to 4.9) |
| ≥65 years | ||||
| Pneumococcal | 76.8 (76.3 to 77.2) | 88.6 (86.6 to 90.6) | 17.4 (16.7 to 18.1) | 15.3 (13.2 to 17.4) |
| Streptococcal (non-pneumococcal) | 76.5 (76 to 77) | 89.9 (88 to 91.7) | 16.9 (16 to 17.7) | 12.1 (10 to 14.2) |
| Staphylococcal | 76.3 (75.9 to 76.7) | 79.4 (77 to 81.7) | 21.4 (20.3 to 22.5) | 21.8 (19.4 to 24.1) |
| Other/unknown | 76.8 (76.6 to 77) | 79.4 (78.3 to 80.5) | 15.7 (15.3 to 16.1) | 15.7 (14.7 to 16.6) |
Values shown are mean (95% CI), unless otherwise specified.
↵* Includes thoracentesis-related procedures (ICD9-CM: 34.04, 34.06, 34.09, 34.21, 34.51, 34.52, 34.91).