National Randomized Trial Comparing Chest Tube Drainage Plus Antibiotics Versus Antibiotics Alone for Adult Lung Abscess Treatment

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether early drainage of lung abscesses combined with standard antibiotic treatment can shorten hospital stays compared to antibiotics alone. This trial involves adult patients hospitalized with lung abscesses larger than 4 cm near the lung surface. The study is a randomized controlled trial conducted across university hospitals in Denmark and aims to provide new evidence to improve treatment guidelines for this serious condition. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups one group receives a chest tube inserted into the abscess to drain pus along with intravenous antibiotics, while the other group receives intravenous antibiotics only. Drainage tubes are placed under imaging guidance and flushed three times daily. Both groups follow antibiotic treatment protocols, starting with intravenous piperacillintazobactam and transitioning to oral antibiotics once clinical improvement is observed. The intervention duration and tube removal depend on clinical and imaging criteria. During the hospital stay, participants complete health questionnaires and undergo routine scans, blood tests, and lung assessments. Pus and cheek swabs are collected for microbiological analysis. After discharge, follow-up includes a phone call at one week and in-person visits at 4 and 12 weeks with lung function tests, walk tests, questionnaires, CT scans, and blood tests. One year later, medical records are reviewed for long-term outcomes. The primary outcome measured is the length of hospital stay from admission to discharge.

Transthoracic Drainage of Lung Abscesses. A National Randomized Trial.