A lung abscess is a cavity filled with pus. In most cases, it’s the result of a bacterial infection in lung tissue. The infection causes lung tissue to die. Pus collects in the resulting space.

A lung abscess can be challenging to treat, and it can also be life threatening.

If a lung abscess lasts for under 4 to 6 weeks, it’s considered acute. A lung abscess that lasts for longer than that is considered chronic.

The most noticeable symptom of a lung abscess is aproductive cough. The contents that are coughed up may bebloodyor pus-like, with a foul odor.

Other symptoms include:

Lung abscesses can be classified as primary or secondary. They have different causes and develop from different strains of bacteria.

Primary lung abscess

主要脓肿是由withi感染引起的n the lung.

Alcohol use disorderis the condition most likely to make a person susceptible to developing a lung abscess, according to a 2015 study .

People with alcohol use disorder often experiencebouts of vomitingandaltered levels of consciousness. These complications increase the likelihood of a person inhaling stomach contents and bacteria into the lungs, which can cause an infection.

People who misuse alcohol often haveweakened immune systemsdue to poor overall health andmalnutrition, which also makes it easier to develop an infection.

Pneumonia, including a type known asaspiration pneumonia, can also cause a primary lung abscess.

Aspiration pneumonia is an infection that develops after food or secretions from the mouth, stomach, or sinuses are inhaled into the lungs instead of going into the esophagus. It’s a very common cause of primary abscesses.

Aspiration of food or secretions occurs most often while someone is sedated or unconscious, either as a result of intoxication oranesthesia.

The inhaled material is often damaging to lung tissue. It’s also typically filled with bacteria, either from aninfectionor from normal bacteria found in the mouth, respiratory tract, or stomach.

Secondary lung abscess

Secondary abscesses are caused by anything other than an infection that starts in the lung. Examples include:

Secondary lung abscesses are less common than primary lung abscesses.

People with alcohol use disorder or who have recently been ill (especially with pneumonia) have a higher risk of developing a lung abscess.

Other people who are also at risk include those withweakened immune systems来自:

The risk is high for people who have recently been under anesthesia orsedation, and those who have been unconscious as a result of injury or illness.

Inhaling a foreign object that blocks a large airway is also a risk factor.

To diagnose a lung abscess, a doctor will first look at your health history. They’ll want to know about recent operations when anesthesia was used.

If they suspect an abscess, they’ll analyze your sputum orpus.

The doctor might also use imaging techniques, such as anX-rayor aCT scan, to look at where the infection is located in the lungs and rule out other conditions, such ascanceroremphysema.

For more serious infections, the doctor might take a sample of fluid from the area of the abscess using an instrument called abronchoscope.

If the doctor thinks a foreign object has entered your lungs, they might insert a bronchoscope into the windpipe to locate it.

Antibioticsare the primary treatment for a lung abscess. Experts typically recommend that treatment lasts anywhere from3 weeksto8 weeks. However, treatment might be necessary for 6 months or longer in some cases.

The doctor may also suggest lifestyle changes, such as avoiding smoking if you smoke, and drinking more fluids.

In some cases, more invasive procedures or surgery may be necessary. Atubecan be inserted into the lungs to drain pus from the abscess, or a surgical procedure may be required to remove infected or damaged lung tissue.

在极少数情况下,肺脓疡n rupture, or burst. This is a serious medical concern. Surgical treatment may also lead to complications.

Potential complications following the rupture or surgical treatment of an abscess are:

  • Empyema.Inempyema, a large collection of infected fluid accumulates around the lung near the abscess. This condition can be life threatening. Prompt medical care is needed so the fluid can be removed.
  • Bronchopleural fistula.A bronchopleural fistula is an abnormal connection that develops between a large airway inside your lung and the space in the lining around the outside of your lung.Surgeryor bronchoscopy can correct it. In bronchoscopy, a bronchoscope and sealants can close the fistula.
  • Bleeding from your lung or chest wall.This can be a small amount of blood or a lot of blood, which is life threatening.
  • Infection spreading to other parts of the body.If theinfectionleaves your lung, it can then produce abscesses in other parts of your body, including yourbrain.

A primary lung abscess that’s treated with antibiotics heals without complications about90 percentof the time. Secondary lung abscesses have a higher chance of death. Getting treatment as early as possible may improve the outlook.

People with suppressed immune systems, underlying health conditions, or no access to healthcare are more susceptible to adverse outcomes.

To find a no- or low-cost healthcare clinic, use the Health Resources and Services Administrationsearch tool.Telemedicine appsmay also be an option to consider.