The most common cause of an empyema in the postoperative patient is:
A. PneumoniaOne of the most debilitating infections is an empyema, or infection of the pleural space. Frequently, an overwhelming pneumonia is the source of an empyema, but a retained hemothorax, systemic sepsis, esophageal perforation from any cause, and infections with a predilection for the lung (eg, tuberculosis) are potential etiologies as well.