Pleural infection Infections and Infestations
Conditions
Interventions
This will be an international, multicentre point prevalence survey (PPS).
Data collection will be over two 4-week periods within 12 months, from 1st to 28th February and 1st July to 28th July, to re
Sponsors
University of Bristol
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 100 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Any patient aged 18 or over who underwent a pleural procedure for suspected pleural infection, with pleural fluid culture and chemistry, within the previous 4 weeks. Definitions: 1.1. Suspected pleural infection will be identified by the treating/participating clinician, based on: Symptoms and signs suggestive of an infectious process including, but not limited to, one or more of: 1.1.1. Malaise 1.1.2. Fever 1.1.3. Chest pain 1.1.4. Cough 1.1.5. Raised white cell count 1.1.6. Raised C-reactive protein (CRP) or other inflammatory/infectious marker in blood AND Chest imaging evidence of a pleural effusion 1.2. A pleural procedure will be any procedure during which pleural fluid is aspirated from an effusion, in a patient fulfilling the criteria for suspected pleural infection above. 1.3. Pleural procedures where pleural fluid is aspirated but not sent for microbiological testing will not be included, except when the fluid is frank pus and another culture of blood or sputum has been sent. 1.4. Inpatients and outpatients may be included, and patients admitted to a high care or intensive care unit.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Patient is younger than 18 years. 2. Patient has suspected pleural infection as a result of recent thoracic trauma or surgery. 2.1. Note on an exception: patients who have suspected pleural infection and a recent pleural biopsy will still be included, provided there was a preexisting pleural effusion. 3. Patient is culture-positive for pulmonary or pleural Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)*. 4. Known pleural malignancy (pleural fluid cytology positive for malignant cells or known thoracic malignancy or metastases). *It is recognised that patients from areas of high incidence of TB, pleural infection can present similarly to TB pleuritis. Patients will not be excluded solely based on high pretest probability of TB. Patients who are included initially and eventually diagnosed with pleural TB will be dealt with separately in the analysis
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactSteven Walker
Outcome results
None listed