Pleural infections are an important health problem, since mortality and costs due to prolonged hospitaliza-tion remain quite high for a 'benign' disease supposed to be accurately treated [1,2]. The goal of the management of pleural infection is the quick relief of sepsis in order to cure the patient. This results in reduced hospital stay, avoids surgical treatment, improves morbidity and mortality, and therefore reduces the total costs of treatment [1,2]. Published guidelines on the management of pleural infection [3] seem to be more like 'eminence-' than 'evidence'-based guidelines, since many Cs or Ds, some Bs and only two As exist.
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