TOPIC: Chest Infections TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: Empyema is an infection of the pleural space. Inadequate drainage or antimicrobial therapy results in increased morbidity and mortality and a 20%-30% fatality rate [1-3]. Streptococcal and Staphylococcal species are the frequent cause of community-acquired empyema. In comparison, Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus Aureus have been implicated in healthcare-associated empyema CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old female came in with right-sided chest discomfort and acute onset hypoxic respiratory failure with a history of diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and Roux-en Y surgery (requiring multiple revisions). Examination revealed acute respiratory distress and diminished right-sided breath sounds, and she underwent emergent intubation. Chest x-ray showed right pleural effusion and pneumomediastinum (Figure A). A complex right pleural effusion with a extensive pneumomediastinum surrounding the distal esophagus was displayed by chest computed tomography (CT) (Figure B). CT chest with oral contrast revealed no esophageal perforation (Figure C). A 20 French chest tube insertion returned feculent fluid. Pleural fluid analysis revealed: pH 6.88, protein: 3.9 g/dL, LDH >2500 U/L, amylase 655 U/L. Pleural fluid stain was positive for gram-positive cocci and culture grew vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) sensitive to daptomycin and linezolid. She was treated with daptomycin and meropenem. Pan-endoscopy was performed to evaluate the pneumomediastinum, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed gastro-pleural fistula. She was diagnosed with VRE empyema due to a gastro-pleural fistula from gastric limb perforation. Unfortunately, her clinical course worsened, and she was transitioned to comfort care DISCUSSION: Among the infrequent enterococcal empyema's, VRE is rare. A literature review revealed only two VRE empyema cases. Both cases occurred in immunocompromised hosts (Asplenia and HIV) [4-5]. The presented patient's empyema was due to the perforation of her residual gastric limb with bile reflux, resulting in her pleural cavity VRE seeding. Enterococci are commensals in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) but typically only represent a small portion of the gut microbiome [6]. As with the above patient, in individuals with multiple hospitalizations and courses of antibiotics, VRE can flourish due to significant shifts in the gut microbiota [7] CONCLUSIONS: Enterococcus infections are a rare cause of empyema and correlates with increased mortality and morbidity without prompt identification and treatment. When VRE is identified in the pleural space, a GI source should be considered and evaluated with pan-endoscopy. It should be preceded promptly with thoracic drainage and broad antimicrobial coverage REFERENCE #1: Grijalva CG, Zhu Y, Nuorti JP, Griffin MR. Emergence of parapneumonic empyema in the USA. Thorax. 2011;66(8):663-668. doi:10.1136/thx.2010.156406 REFERENCE #2: Nielsen J, Meyer CN, Rosenlund S. Outcome and clinical characteristics in pleural empyema: a retrospective study. Scand J Infect Dis. 2011;43(6-7):430-435. doi:10.3109/00365548.2011.562527 REFERENCE #3: Maskell NA, Batt S, Hedley EL, Davies CWH, Gillespie SH, Davies RJO. The bacteriology of pleural infection by genetic and standard methods and its mortality significance. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2006;174(7):817-823. doi:10.1164/rccm.200601-074OC DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Cliff Chen, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Yuji Oba, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Tarang Patel, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by SACHIN PATIL, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Blaine Winterton, source=Web Response