Spontaneous Escherichia Coli Empyema Thoracis: An Unusual Occurrence in a Non-cirrhotic, Immunocompetent Individual

Spontaneous bacterial empyema is a spontaneous infection of the pleural cavity in the absence of pneumonia, typically seen in patients with liver cirrhosis and preexisting hepatic hydrothorax. Empyema thoracis caused by () is a rare clinical finding and, in most cases, a consequence of pneumonia. Spontaneous bacterial empyema secondary to in a non-cirrhotic individual is an unusual association, rarely described in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of spontaneous bacterial empyema thoracis in a non-cirrhotic, immunocompetent individual with a complex medical history including pulmonary thromboembolism, oropharyngeal dysphagia, and a high aspiration risk of oropharyngeal secretions.