Table Of Contents
Pulmonary abscess
A pulmonary abscess is a focal, contained infection of the lung parenchyma. Key symptoms include fever, cough, and sputum. Requires a chest X-ray for diagnosis.
- Patient groups at risk
- Alcoholics
- Aspiration
- Loss of consciousness (esp. Seizures)
- Poor dentition
- Intubation
- Symptoms of pulmonary abscess
- High fever (larger focus of inflammation)
- Putrid sputum
- Cough
- Investigations
- Chest X-ray:
- focal cavitation with an air-fluid level (look for the wall of the abscess)
- Biopsy: most accurate test
- Chest X-ray:
- Treatment
- Clindamycin: antibiotic therapy of choice
- Drainage: rarely needed
