Empyema is most often a complication of bacterial pneumonia. Since 1995 empyema admissions have been included in a diagnosis of pyothorax. This code comprises empyema, pneumoempyema and abscess of the pleura or thorax. The numbers of admissions for abscess of the pleura or thorax are likely to be small so trends in pyothorax provide a good indication of trends in empyema admissions.

There were 235 admissions for pyothorax in 2002/03 compared with 129 in 1995/96. Admission rates have risen in all childrens’ age groups but only significantly so in 1-4 year olds in whom they rose threefold over this period.