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Abscess Lung Underlying Cause

Lung abscess are caused by bacteria in the lung. The bacteria invade the lung tissue and start to grow. The body forms an abscess, in order to fight the infection. An abscess is a collection of pus, which is made up of infected tissue and white blood cells that fight infection.

Conditions that can lead to lung abscess include:

Severe emphysema
Cystic fibrosis
Pneumonia
Sepsis
Lung cancer
Inhaled foreign body
Inhaled bacteria from the:

Mouth
Stomach
Sinuses

Abscess Lung Pathogens

Examples of bacteria and other organisms that cause lung abscesses include:

Actinomyces israelii
Aspergillus
Atypical mycobacteria
Beta-hemolytic streptococcus
Blastomycosis
Coccidioidomycosis
Cryptococcus
Haemophilus influenzae
Histoplasmosis
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Legionella pneumophila
Nocardia
Staphylococcus aureus

Continue to Abscess Lung Anatomy

Last Updated: Feb 7, 2011 References
Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD
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PubMed Abscess Lung References

Chan PC, Huang LM, Wu PS, Chang PY, Yang TT, Lu CY, Lee PI, Chen JM, Lee CY, Chang LY. Clinical management and outcome of childhood lung abscess: a 16-year experience. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2005 Jun;38(3):183-8. [15986068]
Mansharamani N, Balachandran D, Delaney D, Zibrak JD, Silvestri RC, Koziel H. Lung abscess in adults: clinical comparison of immunocompromised to non-immunocompromised patients. Respir Med. 2002 Mar;96(3):178-85. [11905552]
Mansharamani NG, Koziel H. Chronic lung sepsis: lung abscess, bronchiectasis, and empyema. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2003 May;9(3):181-5. [12682562]
Yen CC, Tang RB, Chen SJ, Chin TW. Pediatric lung abscess: a retrospective review of 23 cases. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2004 Feb;37(1):45-9. [15060687]