10 Questions
What is a lung abscess?
A circumscribed, purulent infection contained within the lung parenchyma.
What are the two main causes of lung abscesses?
Complication of aspiration or acute monomicrobial infections with pyogenic bacteria.
How are primary lung abscesses defined?
Resulting from direct infection of the pulmonary parenchyma in an otherwise healthy person.
What causes most primary lung abscesses?
Aspiration of oral or gastric contents.
What is the usual onset of lung abscesses that arise from aspiration?
Indolent.
Name three bacteria that can cause acute monomicrobial lung abscesses.
Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
What are the possible sources of lung abscesses?
Secondary infection of pre-existing lung cavities, bronchial obstruction, septic embolization, or direct extension from local infections.
Define a lung abscess.
A circumscribed area of pus or necrosis in the pulmonary parenchyma caused by microbial infection.
How can lung abscesses be classified?
Primary or secondary.
What type of organisms can cause primary lung abscesses?
Polymicrobial.
Study Notes
Lung Abscesses
- A lung abscess is a circumscribed, purulent infection within the lung parenchyma.
- Most lung abscesses arise as a complication of aspiration, making them typically polymicrobial and indolent in onset.
- Less commonly, lung abscesses can complicate acute monomicrobial infections with pyogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Classification of Lung Abscesses
- Lung abscesses can be primary or secondary.
- Primary lung abscesses result from direct infection of the pulmonary parenchyma in an otherwise healthy person.
- Most primary lung abscesses result from aspiration of oral or gastric contents.
- Primary lung abscesses can also arise within an area of pneumonia caused by necrotizing organisms, such as S. aureus.
Other Causes of Lung Abscesses
- Lung abscesses can also result from secondary infection of pre-existing lung cavities, bronchial obstruction, septic embolization, or direct extension from local infections, such as empyema.
This quiz provides an introduction to lung abscess, a purulent infection within the lung parenchyma often caused by aspiration or pyogenic bacteria. It covers common causes and manifestations of lung abscesses.
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