AUTHOR=Sun Yue , Dong Han , Zhang Na , Zhao Peng , Qi Yuan , Yang Xin , Wang Lingling 

TITLE=Empyema caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: a case report and literature review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1099040

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2023.1099040

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p><italic>Fusobacterium nucleatum</italic> is a common oral symbiotic flora that can cause respiratory tract, oral nervous system, obstetric and skin infections. <italic>Fusobacterium nucleatum</italic> infections are mostly caused by aspiration. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary infections with <italic>Fusobacterium nucleatum</italic> can include simple pneumonia, lung abscesses, empyema, etc.</p></sec><sec><title>Case presentation</title><p>We described the case of a 49-year-old man with a 1-year history of intermittent cough and sputum production who had worsened over the last 4 days with fever and right chest pain. After thoracentesis and catheter drainage were performed, <italic>Fusobacterium nucleatum</italic> was detected in the pleural effusion by using next-generation sequencing. Meanwhile, a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the right lung was made by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The patient's condition improved significantly after percutaneous drainage and long-term intravenous antibiotic treatment.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>This is the first case reported of empyema due to <italic>Fusobacterium nucleatum</italic> infection in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma.</p></sec>