Lung abscess or pulmonary abscess is a local suppurative process within the lung. It is characterized by accumulation of pus accompanied by the destruction of lung tissue. Content: Definition Etiology and pathogenesis Morphology Clinical Features Diagnostic findings Prevention Management

1. Presented by:
Ankita Roy
BSc Nursing 2nd Year
Royal School of Nursing

2. DEFINITION
● Lung (pulmonary) abscess is a local suppurative
process within the lung.
● Characterized by:
○ Accumulation of pus accompanied by the destruction of lung tissue.

3. CLASSIFICATION
● Based on it’s duration
○ Acute Abscess
○ Chronic abscess
● Based on it’s etiology
○ Primary Abscess
○ Secondary Abscess

4. Etiology and Pathogenesis
● Causative organisms
○ Any pathogen can produce lung abscess.
○ It is usually due to aerobic and anaerobic organisms.
○ Inhalation of foreign material.

5. ● Causative agents
○ Anaerobic bacteria, with or without mixed aerobic infection
○ Staphylococcus aureus
○ Klebsiella pneumoniae
○ Streptococcus pyogenes
○ Type 3 Pneumococcus

6. Etiopathogenesis
● Aspiration of infective material
○ Common in acute alcoholism, coma, anesthesia etc.
● Antecedent primary lung infection
○ Microbes usually associated are:
■ S. aureus
■ K. pneumoniae
■ Type 3 Pneumococcus
● Bronchial Obstruction

7. ● Septic embolism
● Miscellaneous
○ Direct penetrating trauma to the lungs.
○ Spread of infections from neighboring organs.

8. Morphology
● Gross
○ Size: Vary from few millimeters to large cavities of
5-6cm
○ Content:
■ Abscess cavity may contain suppurative
debris.
■ Communication with an air passage 
abscess partially drained to produce an air-
containing cavity
○ Continued infection may result  gangrene of
the lung

9. ● Microscopy
○ Cardinal feature: It is characterized by
suppurative destruction of the lung
parenchyma within the central area of
cavitations.
○ Abscess shows numerous
polymorphonuclear leukocytes and
variable numbers of macrophages.
○ The abscess is surrounded by fibrous
wall infiltrated by inflammatory cells.

10. Clinical Features
● Cough with foul- smelling
● Purulent
● Sanguineous sputum
● Occasionally hemoptysis
● Spiking fever
● Malaise
● Clubbing of the fingers
● Weight loss
● Anemia

11. Diagnostic findings
● History taking
● Physical examination
● Chest X-Ray
● CT Scan
● CBC
● Sputum culture and sensitivity tests
● Fiberoptic bronchoscopy

12. CHEST X-RAY

13. CT SCAN

14. CBC TEST

15. Sputum Culture Test

16. Fiber-optic bronchoscopy

17. Prevention
● Appropriate antibiotic therapy before any dental procedures in
patients who must have teeth extracted while their teeth and
gums are infected.
● Adequate dental and oral hygiene, because anaerobic bacteria
play a role in the pathogenesis of lung abscess.
● Appropriate antimicrobial therapy for patients with pneumonia.

18. Management
● Pharmacological Management
○ Treatment focus on cause of cough
○ Symptomatic treatment elimination of irritant and pain relief analgesic
and antipyretic
○ Antibiotic treatment may be indicated depending on the symptoms,
sputum purulence, and results of the sputum culture
○ Antihistamine are usually not prescribed
● Surgical Management
○ LOBECTOMY

19. Complication
● Pneumothorax or empyema
● Hemorrhage into the abscess cavity
● Meningitis or brain abscess
● Secondary amyloidosis

20. THANK YOU