@article{ajidm20251332,
author={{Ravichandran, Abishek and Kumar, Saka Vinod and R, Manju and Biswas, Rakhi and Basu, Sharbari},
title={Rapid Score as a Prognostic Factor for Patients with Empyema in a Tertiary Care Center - A Prospective Observational Study},
journal={American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology},
volume={13},
number={3},
pages={51--55},
year={2025},
url={https://pubs.sciepub.com/ajidm/13/3/2},
issn={2328-4064},
abstract={<b>Background:</b> Empyema is a serious pleural infection with significant morbidity and mortality. The RAPID score is a validated tool for early risk stratification. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the RAPID score in adult empyema patients in a tertiary care setting. <b>Methods:</b> A prospective observational study was conducted on 61 adult patients with confirmed empyema. RAPID scores were assigned at admission to stratify patients into low (0¨C2), medium (3¨C4), and high (5¨C7) risk groups. Clinical features, microbiological profile, radiological findings, need for surgery, hospital stay, and 3-month mortality were recorded and analysed. <b>Results:</b>Most patients were male (82%) and aged &lt;50 years (52.5%). Diabetes (42.6%) and tuberculosis (26.2%) were prevalent; Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.7%) was the most common isolate. RAPID scores classified 65.6% as low risk, 29.5% as medium, and 4.9% as high. Unadjusted analysis showed higher mortality in medium-risk vs. low-risk groups (27.8% vs. 5%; p = 0.026), with no deaths in the high-risk group. On multivariable logistic regression, medium risk had higher but non-significant odds of mortality (aOR 8.03; 95% CI 0.61¨C105.13; p = 0.112); subgroup analysis suggested a stronger association in non-TB empyema (aOR 13.67; p = 0.061). Only age was independently associated with mortality (p = 0.014). RAPID score was not associated with hospital stay or surgical intervention. <b>Conclusion:</b> The RAPID score is a useful bedside tool for predicting short-term mortality in empyema, particularly in medium-risk patients, though it does not predict hospital stay or surgical need. Age was the strongest individual predictor of mortality.},
doi={10.12691/ajidm-13-3-2}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}