Review

Authors: Ivan Kuhajda, Konstantinos Zarogoulidis, Katerina Tsirgogianni...

Lung abscess is a type of liquefactive necrosis of the lung tissue and formation of cavities (more than 2 cm) containing necrotic debris or fluid caused by microbial infection. It can be caused by aspiration, which may occur during altered consciousness and it usually causes a pus-filled cavity. Moreover, alcoholism is the most common condition predisposing to lung abscesses. Lung abscess is considered primary (60%) 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. There are several imaging techniques which can identify the material inside the thorax such as computerized tomography (CT) scan of the thorax and ultrasound of the thorax. 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. In the current review we will present all current information from diagnosis to treatment.

PubMed: 26366400
DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2015.07.08

Authors: Hang Ruan, Yi-Ming Tao, Shu-Sheng Li...

Topics: Actinomyces; Empyema, Pleural; Humans; Lung Abscess

PubMed: 35943021
DOI: 10.34172/aim.2022.65

Review

Authors: Søren Sperling, Klaus Leth Mortensen, Pia Gjørup...

A lung abscess is a necrotising infection leading to loss of healthy lung tissue. It develops over several weeks, and the typical presentation includes cough, fever, and general deterioration. The clinical work-up includes contrast-enhanced CT-scans, and frequently flexible bronchoscopy with broncho-alveolar lavage as described in this review. The infection commonly represents aspiration of oral bacterial flora, including anaerobic microbes. Penicillin resistance is common. A lung abscess generally requires long-term, tailored antibiotic treatment. The patient should consult a dentist to identify possible dental foci.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Bronchoscopy; Humans; Lung; Lung Abscess

PubMed: 34060466
DOI: No ID Found

Authors: Benoit Boucher, Doina Virlan, Venkata Buddharaju...

A 72-year-old male presented to the ER with three days of productive cough, shortness of breath, and generalized weakness. Chest X-ray showed right lung opacity in the lower lobe. Chest CT scan showed consolidation in the superior segment of the right lower cavity with air-fluid level extending to the pleural and chest wall, suggestive of lung abscess with loculated empyema and thickened pleura. The patient received antibiotics and CT-guided aspiration of blood-tinged fluid followed by two weeks of drainage via a transthoracic catheter. There was a near-complete resolution of the opacity and closure of the lung abscess on follow-up chest imaging. The patient clinically improved with resolution of the cough and dyspnea. Workup was negative for bacteria and acid-fast bacilli (AFB). The purpose of this paper is to review short-term and long-term management, approach, and consideration to be taken while facing a pan-negative etiological workup of a complicated abscess.

PubMed: 36579261
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31910

Authors: Lamees Yousef, Abdullah Yousef, Abdullah Al-Shamrani...

(1) Background: Lung abscess is a lung infection that leads to the destruction of the lung parenchyma, resulting in a cavity formation and central necrosis filled with purulent fluids. It is an uncommon pediatric problem, and there is a paucity of literature reviews on this subject, especially for the pediatric age group. Lung abscess is commonly divided into those considered primary in previously well children or secondary in those with predisposing co-morbidities. The predominant pathogens isolated from primary lung abscesses are the aerobic organisms, including streptococcal species, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, while anaerobic bacteria such as Bacteroides species are predominant in secondary groups. Children usually present with fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and sputum. While physical examination may reveal diffuse crackles on auscultation, the diagnosis is usually confirmed by chest X-ray. (2) Methods: We report four different cases with lung abscesses from both primary and secondary group with similar presentations and radiological findings, but the approach was different in each according to the underlining cause. (3) Conclusions: Conservative therapies with a prolonged course of antibiotics remain the cornerstone of therapy for both primary and secondary lung abscesses. The underlying cause should be considered when there is a suboptimal response. However, invasive intervention is becoming more popular with better yield, shorter duration of antibiotics and admission, and excellent prognosis.

PubMed: 35884031
DOI: 10.3390/children9071047

Authors: Makoto Miki

PubMed: 29984749
DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0968-18

Authors: C L ROBINSON

Foregut cysts frequently cause symptoms in the first three decades of life. The symptoms consist of dyspnea, wheezing, cough and sputum, dysphagia, stridor, and those associated with right heart strain. Symptoms and the radiological appearance of the uncomplicated cyst mimic mediastinal tumour and mediastinal obstruction. The symptoms and radiological appearance of the ruptured infected cyst simulate those of lung abscess, diaphragmatic hernia, ruptured hydatid cyst, cavitated peripheral carcinoma and pulmonary tuberculosis. In this series the differentiation from other cysts was made thus: with intralobar sequestration, a systemic arterial blood supply was demonstrated; with hydatid cyst, there was a positive intradermal skin test and (radiologically) following rupture, the appearance of a pericystic pneumatocele followed by the water-lily sign was diagnostic; with emphysematous cysts, the signs of associated bronchitis were present; in the presence of pseudocysts, there was a previous history of lung abscess, staphylococcal infection or tuberculosis. Cysts should be removed when first diagnosed.

Topics: Animals; Bronchitis; Cough; Cysts; Dyspnea; Echinococcosis; Echinococcus; Hernia, Hiatal; Humans; Lung Abscess; Mediastinum; Radiology; Respiratory Sounds; Rupture; Sputum; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

PubMed: 13974421
DOI: No ID Found

Authors: Na Wang, Zhichao Gao, Shuai He...

A lung abscess is a necrotizing infection caused by microbiomes that lead to the loss of healthy lung tissue. The routine culture is a waste of time and yields false-negative results, and clinicians could only choose empiric therapy or use broad-spectrum antibiotics, which could significantly contribute to the problem of resistance or aggravate the condition. We report three patients with a routine-culture-negative lung abscess. The presenting symptoms included fever, cough, dyspnea, and chest pain, and a computed tomography scan revealed a lesion in the lungs. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and pleural fluid were tested for pathogens using metagenome next-generation sequencing (mNGS), and the results revealed and spp. (, ) as the most represented microbial pathogens. Our data demonstrated that mNGS could be a promising alternative diagnostic tool for pathogen detection, and the pathogen lists indicate that it will be important to focus on the genus rather than the dominant spp. in terms of co-infection of pathogen determined by shotgun mNGS.

PubMed: 37483431
DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0651

Review

Authors: Kotaro Umamoto, Masahide Horiba

A 16-year-old male was admitted with persistent fever, diarrhea, and anorexia 8 days after the diagnosis of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Radiological examination of the lungs showed a cavitary lesion with an air-fluid level, but no apparent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia. The lesion was diagnosed as a lung abscess after COVID-19. Treatment with antimicrobials was initiated, which attenuated symptoms and the lung lesion. Specific pathogens were not detected despite repeated sputum cultures, which suggested that lung abscess was caused by oral bacteria as a secondary infection of COVID-19. To date, several cases of lung abscess as a complication of COVID-19 have been reported. However, the majority of cases occurred after intubation to treat COVID-19, and there have been no cases involving young adults. This healthy young patient may have developed lung abscess due to COVID-19.

Topics: Male; Young Adult; Humans; Adolescent; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Lung Abscess; Coinfection; Lung

PubMed: 36791990
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2023.02.005