Lung Abscess
PATHOGENS
Some pathogens may routinely cause lung abscesses/cavities. Lung abscesses are often polymicrobial and involve oral flora.
- Bacteria:
- S. aureus, including MRSA and MSSA
- Anaerobes: among the most common cause, putrid sputum is diagnostic of this class of pathogens
- Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides melaninogenicus and Peptostreptococcus are leading anaerobic pathogens.
- Aerobic and microaerophilic streptococci, including S. anginosusgroup and Group A streptococci.
- Gram-negative bacteria, especially in Taiwan, an unexplained strong association with Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Also, P. aeruginosa.
- Meloidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei) is a concern, especially in SE Asia.
- Legionella
- Nocardia
- Actinomyces
- Group A streptococci
- H. influenzae (type b)
- Rhodococcus equi
- Mycobacteria: M. tuberculosis, MAI, M. kansasii, M. abscessus
- Also, almost any non-tubercular mycobacteria may produce an abscess/cavity.
- Fungi: Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Coccidioides, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus
- Parasitic: usually more cystic
- Hydatid cysts (Echinococcus)
- Paragonimiasis
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Last updated: January 23, 2023
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul G. "Lung Abscess." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2023. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540324/all/Lung_Abscess.
Auwaerter PG. Lung Abscess. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540324/all/Lung_Abscess. Accessed September 7, 2024.
Auwaerter, P. G. (2023). Lung Abscess. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540324/all/Lung_Abscess
Auwaerter PG. Lung Abscess [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. [cited 2024 September 07]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540324/all/Lung_Abscess.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Lung Abscess
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BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
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PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Pediatrics Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
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