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Abstract:
A 58-year-old woman who had recurrent aspiration due to atlantoaxial subluxation, a complication of rheumatoid arthritis, had S milleri empyema. This organism has been associated with purulent disease in previous series, and may be a relatively common but unrecognized cause of empyema.
Insights
A patient developed empyema caused by Streptococcus milleri due to recurrent aspiration from rheumatoid arthritis complications. This finding suggests S. milleri may be an underrecognized cause of empyema.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis can lead to complications like atlantoaxial subluxation.
- Atlantoaxial subluxation can cause recurrent aspiration, increasing infection risk.
Observation:
- A 58-year-old woman experienced recurrent aspiration.
- This was attributed to atlantoaxial subluxation, a known complication of rheumatoid arthritis.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with empyema caused by Streptococcus milleri.
- Streptococcus milleri is often linked to purulent infections.
Implications:
- This case highlights Streptococcus milleri as a potential cause of empyema.
- Further research is needed to understand the prevalence of S. milleri in empyema cases.