Encapsulated Empyema Caused by Eikenella Corrodens

A natural component of the flora on the surface of human mucosa is Eikenella corrodens. It is a gram-negative bacillus that grows slowly and has the potential to seriously infect humans. Encapsulated pyothorax due to invasive Eikenella corrodens has not yet been recorded, despite the fact that E. corrodens infections in several human body locations have been extensively documented.

We report a confirmed case of a Han Chinese with encapsulated pulmonary edema caused by Eikenella corrodens. The pathogen was detected and confirmed by internal thoracoscopy and nanopore sequencing technology (NTS).

After chest drainage was closed, the patient experienced worsening symptoms of secondary empyema. Ultimately, the patient's lesions were absorbed and the symptoms decreased following medical subchest drainage and frequent chest injections of urokinase for concurrent chest debridement.

Eikenella corrodens mainly causes acute suppurative infections and forms local abscesses. Nanopore sequencing technology is easier to rapidly and accurately target the causative microorganisms than traditional microbiological cultures.