A lung abscess is a pus-filled space in the lung caused by inhaling bacteria, fungi, or tuberculosis. Symptoms include coughing, fever, and chest pain. Treatment involves antibiotics and, in rare cases, surgery. Patients with weak immune systems or lung cancer may have less effective treatment.
A lung abscess is a hollow space in the lung filled with pus. It is surrounded by irritated tissue and is caused by an infection. The infection is the result of inhaling bacteria that are commonly found inside a person’s mouth or throat. People with weak immune systems can develop a lung abscess. Fungi or organisms that cause tuberculosis can also cause a lung abscess to form. The abscess can also be caused by a serious infection called Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
If a tumor or other object blocks the airways, this particular type of abscess can develop in the lungs. This is because secretions can form behind the tumor. When bacteria enter secretions, blocked airways prevent a person from expelling these secretions. In rare cases, a lung abscess can occur when clots from infected blood or bacteria from another infected area of the body move through the blood.
Over time, a lung abscess bursts into the airways. As a result, the person passes a large amount of sputum. This leaves the cavity full of air and fluid. Sometimes, the lung abscess may need to be removed through surgery. In some cases, the abscess ruptures in the area between the chest wall and the lungs. The area then fills with pus, causing a condition called empyema.
Symptoms of a lung abscess include fatigue, fever, cough that produces sputum, loss of appetite, and sweating. Cough sputum may smell foul and contain traces of blood. The person with a lung abscess may also experience chest pain.
He or she might also experience shortness of breath and wheezing. Those who wait too long to see a doctor may suffer from weight loss, night sweats and constant fever. A lung abscess caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection can cause death within days or even hours.
If a doctor suspects a patient has a lung abscess, they will order a chest X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan for the patient. A bronchoscope, a long tube used to look into the voice box and lungs, is used to determine whether the abscess is caused by a tumor or a foreign body in the airways. Doctors will then treat a lung abscess with antibiotics for several weeks or months.
Initially, antibiotics are given intravenously and are later administered orally. Patients continue to receive antibiotics until a chest X-ray reveals the abscess has been destroyed. In rare cases, the lung abscess may need to be drained. This is accomplished by using a tube that is placed inside the chest wall and directed at the abscess.
Other patients may have to remove a portion or all of the lung to treat the abscess. People with weak immune systems or lung cancer may have less effective treatment. Patients with large lung abscesses may also find that treatment is less effective in their situation.
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