POCUS-PI : POCUS in Pleural Infection (Oral vs non Oral)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prospective Pilot Study: Thoracic Ultrasound Features to Differentiate Oral-Type and Non-Oral-Type Pleural Infections
IRAS ID
358010
Contact name
Ahmed Fadel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Swansea Bay University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
Pleural infection is a serious condition where infected fluid collects around the lungs. It can cause severe illness, long hospital stays, and sometimes requires surgery. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important to improve outcomes.
Pleural infections can be caused by different types of bacteria. Some come from the mouth and upper airway (often related to aspiration), while others are linked to pneumonia or healthcare-associated infection. These different types of infection can behave differently, but it is often difficult to identify the cause early because laboratory culture results can take several days and are frequently negative.
Ultrasound of the chest is already widely used in hospital care to assess pleural infections. It is safe, painless, does not use radiation, and is performed at the bedside. Ultrasound can show features such as the appearance of the fluid, internal divisions (septations), and thickening of the lining of the lung. However, it is not known whether these ultrasound features differ depending on the type of bacteria causing the infection.
This study is a small pilot (feasibility) study involving around 20 adult patients admitted to hospital with pleural infection. Ultrasound findings that are already part of routine care will be recorded in a structured way. No extra tests, treatments, or scans will be performed for research purposes.
The study will compare ultrasound features with routine microbiology results to explore whether certain ultrasound patterns are seen more often with specific types of infection. The study will also assess whether it is practical to collect this information prospectively.
The results will help determine whether a larger future study is possible and may improve early decision-making in the management of pleural infection.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/PR/0173
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion