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Lung Abscess

Daniel R. Matta, MD and Simone J Lescott, MD Reviewed 06/2021
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Pulmonary abscess or lung abscess is a polymicrobial infection of the lung parenchyma that causes necrosis and destruction of the normal pulmonary parenchyma with resultant cavitatio...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Typically made by chest x-ray in a patient with compatible historical and clinical features

HISTORY

  • Usually a smoldering infection with subacute to chronic course of symptoms

  • Most patients repo...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • Antimicrobial therapy is almost always empiric, reflecting the difficulty of obtaining specimens that are appropriate for anaerobic culture; long time required to complete such cul...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Serial CXRs should be monitored for resolution or stability of initial findings (2,7).

  • Monitor disease progression as well as side effects of antibiotics, particu...

REFERENCES

1
Chirteş  IR, Mărginean  CO, Gozar  H, et al. Lung abscess remains a life-threatening condition in pediatrics—a case report. J Crit Care Med (Targu Mures).  201...

ADDITIONAL READING

Desai  H, Agrawal  A. Pulmonary emergencies: pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung abscess, and empyema. Med Clin North Am.  2012;96(6):1127...

SEE ALSO

Pneumonia, Bacterial 

CODES

ICD10

  • J85.2 Abscess of lung without pneumonia

  • J85.1 Abscess of lung with pneumonia

  • A06.5 Amebic lung abscess

  • J85.3 Abscess of mediastinum

SNOMED

  • 73452002 Abscess of lung (disorder)

  • 196112005 abscess of...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Aspiration of oral bacteria into the dependent regions of the lung usually causes lung abscesses.

  • Lung abscess are typically presumed to be polymicrobial infections with anaerobes and r...

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