I just was treated for pneumonia followed by a chest tube to drain an empyema . Following my discharge was given a weeks worth of antibiotic which ran out 4 days ago. Yesterday afternoon I started bringing up some mucus as I coughed which has a terrible smell, like burning rubber. I have an appt with my pulmonologist tomorrow at 0930.
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. Foul smelling in phlegm is mostly due to anaerobic infection. Emphysema is also caused by anaerobic infection. So possibility of spread of infection from pleural cavity to lung parenchymal is there. So better to get done repeat chest x-ray and sputum culture and sensitivity to isolate the org organism.  This will helpful in antibiotic titration. So consult pulmonologist and discuss all these.