U.K. Controlled Trial of Intrapleural Streptokinase for Pleural Infection

In this randomized trial involving 454 patients with pleural infections that required antibiotic therapy and chest-tube drainage, there was no benefit from the use of intrapleural streptokinase in terms of survival, the need for surgery, the length of the hospital stay, or the resolution of radiographic abnormalities. In this trial involving 454 patients with pleural infections, there was no benefit from the use of intrapleural streptokinase in terms of survival, the need for surgery, the length of the hospital stay, or the resolution of radiographic abnormalities. Pleural infection develops in about 65,000 patients each year in the United States and the United Kingdom. 1 Approximately 15 percent of patients die, 2 which is similar to the death rate among patients hospitalized with pneumonia, 3 , 4 and 15 to 40 percent require surgical drainage of the infected pleural space. 2 , 5 The median duration of inpatient care is 15 days, with 20 percent of patients remaining in the hospital for a month or longer. 2 Apart from antibiotic therapy, treatment in patients with pleural infection consists mainly of drainage of the infected pleural fluid, and the intrapleural administration of fibrinolytic drugs is . . .