Lung abscess

Lung abscess is a type of liquefactive necrosis of the lung tissue and formation of cavities (more than 2 cm)[1] containing necrotic debris or fluid caused by microbial infection.

Lung abscess
Computed tomography (CT) scan of chest showing bilateral pneumonia with abscesses, effusions, and caverns. 37-year-old male.
SpecialtyInfectious disease, respirology

This pus-filled cavity is often caused by aspiration, which may occur during anesthesia, sedation, or unconsciousness from injury. Alcoholism is the most common condition predisposing to lung abscesses.

Lung abscess is considered primary (60%[2]) when it results from existing lung parenchymal process and is termed secondary when it complicates another process e.g. vascular emboli or follows rupture of extrapulmonary abscess into lung.

Signs and symptoms

Onset of symptoms is often gradual, but in necrotizing staphylococcal or gram-negative bacillary pneumonias patients can be acutely ill. Cough, fever with shivering, and night sweats are often present. Cough can be productive of foul smelling purulent mucus (≈70%) or less frequently with blood in one third of cases).[3] Affected individuals may also complain of chest pain, shortness of breath, lethargy and other features of chronic illness.

Those with a lung abscess are generally cachectic at presentation. Finger clubbing is present in one third of patients.[3] Dental decay is common especially in alcoholics and children. On examination of the chest there will be features of consolidation such as localized dullness on percussion and bronchial breath sounds.

Complications

Although rare in modern times, can include spread of infection to other lung segments, bronchiectasis, empyema, and bacteremia with metastatic infection such as brain abscess.[2] Other complications from under recognition, undertreatment, and untreated underlying causes include rupture into pleural space, pleural fibrosis, trapped lung, respiratory failure, bronchopleural fistula, and pleurocutaneous fistula.[4]

Causes
Conditions contributing to lung abscess
Organisms

In the post-antibiotic era pattern of frequency is changing. In older studies anaerobes were found in up to 90% cases but they are much less frequent now.[6]

Diagnosis

Imaging studies

Lung abscesses are often on one side and single involving posterior segments of the upper lobes and the apical segments of the lower lobes as these areas are gravity dependent when lying down. Presence of air-fluid levels implies rupture into the bronchial tree or rarely growth of gas forming organism.

Laboratory studies

Raised inflammatory markers (high ESR, CRP) are common but nonspecific. Examination of the coughed-up mucus is important in any lung infection and often reveals mixed bacterial flora. Transtracheal or transbronchial (via bronchoscopy) aspirates can also be cultured. Fiber optic bronchoscopy is often performed to exclude obstructive lesion; it also helps in bronchial drainage of pus.

  • Pulmonary abscess on CT scan
    Pulmonary abscess on CT scan
  • Pulmonary abscess on CXR
    Pulmonary abscess on CXR
  • Pathology image of a lung abscess.
    Pathology image of a lung abscess.
  • A subpleural abscess.
    A subpleural abscess.

Management

Broad spectrum antibiotic to cover mixed flora is the mainstay of treatment. Pulmonary physiotherapy and postural drainage are also important. Surgical procedures are required in selective patients for drainage or pulmonary resection.

The treatment is divided according to the type of abscess, acute or chronic. For acute cases the treatment is[9][10]

Prognosis

Most cases respond to antibiotics and prognosis is usually excellent unless there is a debilitating underlying condition. Mortality from lung abscess alone is around 5% and is improving.[10][11]

See also

References
  1. Bartlett JG, Finegold SM (1972). "Anaerobic pleuropulmonary infections". Medicine (Baltimore). 51 (6): 413–50. doi:10.1097/00005792-197211000-00001. PMID 4564416.
  2. "Pneumonia and Other Pulmonary Infections: Lung Abscess, Medscape". Archived from the original on 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  3. Moreira Jda S, Camargo Jde J, Felicetti JC, Goldenfun PR, Moreira AL, Porto Nda S (2006). "Lung abscess: analysis of 252 consecutive cases diagnosed between 1968 and 2004". Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia. 32 (2): 136–43. doi:10.1590/S1806-37132006000200009. PMID 17273583.
  4. Sabbula, Bhanusivakumar R.; Rammohan, Guhan; Akella, Jagadish (2022), "Lung Abscess", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32310380, retrieved 2022-10-31
  5. Tamparo, Carol (2011). Fifth Edition: Diseases of the Human Body. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company. p. 367. ISBN 978-0-8036-2505-1.
  6. Bartlett JG (2005). "The role of anaerobic bacteria in lung abscess". Clin. Infect. Dis. 40 (7): 923–5. doi:10.1086/428586. PMID 15824980.
  7. Kondaveeti, Ravali; Trandafirescu, Theo (2020-10-01). "A Case Report of a Massive Lung Abscess: Parvimonas Micra". Chest. 158 (4): A548. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2020.08.518. ISSN 0012-3692. S2CID 225161109.
  8. Hirshberg B, Sklair-Levi M, Nir-Paz R, Ben-Sira L, Krivoruk V, Kramer MR (1999). "Factors predicting mortality of patients with lung abscess". Chest. 115 (3): 746–50. doi:10.1378/chest.115.3.746. PMID 10084487.
  9. Landsberg, Judd W. (2017). Manual for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Elsevier. ISBN 9780323399524.
  10. Bourke, Stephen J. (2015). Respiratory Medicine (9th ed.). Wiley Blackwell. pp. 97–117. ISBN 9781118652329.
  11. Frey, Rebecca J (2020). "Lung Abscess." In The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 6th ed". The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
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