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Postpneumonic empyema in childhood

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Abstract

Fifty-six patients with postpneumonic empyema were treated by sulbactam/ampicillin or cephalothin and netilmicin. Dose of sulbactam/ampicillin was 200mg/kg per day and of cephalothin was 200mg/kg per day, and of netilmicin was 5mg/kg per day. Sulbactam/ampicillin alone was used in 27 patients. Twenty-nine patients were treated with cephalothin plus netilmicin. Days on intravenous antibiotics, days with chest tube, decortication rate, and duration of hospitalization were significantly shorter in sulbactam/ampicillin treatment group compared to cephalothin plus netilmicin group. This study shows that sulbactam/ampicillin is a safe and effective agent in the treatment of postpneumonic empyema in childhood.

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Belet, N., Uysal, S., Bernay, F. et al. Postpneumonic empyema in childhood. Indian J Pediatr 68, 11–14 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02728849

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