[Successful treatment of a stage III pleural empyema following a COVID-19 infection]. / Erfolgreiche Behandlung eines drittgradigen Pleuraempyems infolge einer COVID-19-Infektion.

Parapneumonic pleural effusion is a common complication of pneumonia and can progress to empyema. Pleural empyema is a life-threatening infection, which can be treated with antibiotics and interventional drainage but in later stages often requires surgery. Here we describe the first case of pleural empyema following a COVID-19 infection with no respiratory failure in a previously healthy and athletic patient. The patient was initially treated with antibiotics and interventional drainage but was readmitted to hospital with symptom deterioration. He was then referred for surgery and underwent an uneventful thoracoscopic washout with partial decortication. The preoperative SARS-CoV­2 swab was negative. The patient recovered fully and could be discharged.