Diseases & Conditions >
This topic is from The 5-Minute Clinical Consult About our sources

Lung Abscess Updated 3/2011

Ruben Peralta, MD
Email       Print Section  |  Print Topic       Add to My Favorites

BASICS

  • Description
  • Epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • General Prevention
  • Etiology
  • Associated Conditions

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • Medication (Drugs)
  • Additional Treatment
  • Surgery
  • In-patient Considerations

Ongoing Care

  • Follow-Up Recommendations
  • Diet
  • Patient Education
  • Prognosis
  • Complications
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description

A localized collection cavity of necrotic lung tissue and pus resulting from pyogenic bacteria (1):

  • Presentation may be acute or chronic (symptoms for >4 weeks).
  • Usual course is subacute progression of symptoms.
  • Synonym(s): Pulmonary abscess

Epidemiology
Incidence
  • Predominant age: Mainly 4th–6th decades
  • Predominant sex: Male > Female (4:1)
Prevalence

Unknown; relatively rare since advent of antibiotics (2)

ALERT: Pediatric Considerations
  • Staphylococcus most common organism in children
Risk Factors
  • Periodontal disease (gingivitis), dental abscess, dental surgery
  • Risk for aspiration:
    • Alcohol intoxication (loss of consciousness) is most common cause of aspiration (1).
    • Epilepsy
    • Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with oropharyngeal dysfunction
    • Sinusitis
    • General anesthesia with surgery
    • Dysphagia
    • Tracheal/nasogastric tube
    • Severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
    • Cerebral palsy
  • Large bacterial burden ...

    • You must be logged in to fully access this content.

    View a sample algorithm for "Anemia"
    Sign In
    Forgot your password?
    Sign up for a 30-Day Free Trial

    Sign up for a 30-Day FREE Trial now and receive access to all content.

    Start free trial!
    Take a tour of 5MinuteConsult.com
    Subscribe now to 5MinuteConsult

    Have a book code?

    Submit your book code to create your FREE standard account.
See Also
Images >
12345678 >
View Large
FIG. 11.28. Pulmonary abscess. A small proportion of children with bacterial pneumonia will develop a pulmonary abscess, as shown here. Although pneumococci cause most bacterial infections of the lungs in children, strong consideration must be given to Staphylococcus aureus in cases complicated by the formation of an abscess.Credit: From Fleisher GR, MD, Ludwig W, MD, Baskin MN, MD. Atlas of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004.
Related Subjects