Over a five year period, 31 patients with empyema thoracis were treated at Anadolu University Hospital. Micro-organisms were identified in cultures of the pleural fluid of 22 of the patients. Only two children were treated by multiple thoracentesis. Twenty-one patients were successfully treated with slow suction intercostal tube drainage. Five patients had decortication for persistent bronchopleural fistulas. Three patients died as a result of severe malnutrition and staphylococcal septicemia. In spite of the fact that appropriate antibiotics have brought about a considerable decrease in the incidence of empyema in developed countries there are still cases requiring multiple thoracentesis and intercostal drainage. In Turkey empyema continues to be a significant problem in childhood.

Keywords: antimicrobial drugs, childhood, decortication, empyema, intercostal tube drainage, multiple thoracentesis