Infected hepatic Echinococcus cyst presenting as recurrent Escherichia coli empyema.

An 81-year-old man, previously a shepherd in Italy, presented with recurrent Escherichia coli empyema over an 8-month period. His empyema was caused by an infected, nonviable hepatic Echinococcus cyst that eroded the diaphragm and led to intermittent spillage and pleural seeding. This case demonstrates that when dealing with Escherichia coli empyema, a subdiaphragmatic source ought to be suspected, and among immigrants from areas with prevalent hydatid disease, infected hepatic Echinococcus cyst might rarely be the cause.