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Gemella empyema cured without antibiotics: a case report
1Department of Medicine, Changi General Hospital, 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore 529889. vijopoulose@pol.net
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
|January 11, 2003
Abstract
Introduction:
Gemella are gram-positive bacteria that are commensals of the upper respiratory tract in humans and infrequently known to cause infections.
Clinical Picture:
We report a case of thoracic empyema due to Gemella morbillorum in an elderly Chinese male who had been having symptoms for 3 months and no response to multiple courses of antibiotics.
Intervention:
The collection was drained with ultrasound guidance.
Outcome:
Drainage of the empyema produced rapid resolution of symptoms and no antibiotics were started.
Conclusions:
Gemella is a very rare cause of empyema which usually responds well to treatment.