lung abscess

Question 1

what are 4 causative organisms of lung abscesses?

a kp p sa

Answer 1

• anaerobes e.g. clostridium
• klebsiella pneumonia
• pseudomonas
• staphylococcus aureus

Question 2

what are 2 risk factors of lung abscesses?

ap np

Answer 2

• aspirating pneumonia
• necrotising pneumonia
  e.g. staphylococcus aureus

Question 3

what are the 6 presentations of lung abscesses?

c h p p s t

Answer 3

• cough
• haemoptysis
• pleuritic chest pain
• purulent foul sputum
• swinging fever
• tachypnoea (shallow breathing)

Question 4

What do you look for in the blood test?

Answer 4

full blood count
- raised white cells

raised inflammatory marker
- C reactive protein

Question 5

what imaging is used to detect lung abscesses?

Answer 5

CXR
CT scan and bronchoscopy

Question 6

what would you see in a chest X-ray that shows a lung abscess?

Answer 6

consolidation or empyema

Question 7

what would you see in a CT scan that shows a lung abscess?

Answer 7

obstructing mass

Question 8

why is a bronchoscopy carried out?

Answer 8

to collect a sample for antibiotic sensitivity

Question 9

what screening test is carried out if you suspect a lung abscess?

Answer 9

tuberculosis screening test

Question 10

what is the treatment for lung abscess?

Answer 10

IV antibiotics for 2-3 weeks
then oral for 4-8 weeks
this is the case for 80% of cases

Question 11

what if treatment fails?

Answer 11

• bronchoscopy
• CT - guided drainage
• or surgical excision