Absceso de pulmón: nuestra experiencia en un servicio de Clínica Médica

Arch Med Interna 2013 - 35(1):09-14 Lung abscesses -defined as a necrosed and cavitated lesions of the lung parenchyma resulting from infection- are polymicrobial, and in 95% of the cases they include anaerobic organisms. The main pathway of infection is through aspirations, and all the clinical conditions that favor aspiration are recognized as predisposing factors. The diagnosis lies on the imaging con- firmation of a cavitated image; endoscopy plays a role as a support to bacte- riology, or primarily to rule out co-morbidities. Therapy is medical, and based on two pillars: postural drain and antibiotic therapy. There are certain clinical situations and/or complications that require surgery. The paper consists of a systematic review of all the cases of lung abscess in a medical ward in the last three years. With an incidence of 17 cases, the paper depicts their key clinical and laboratory epidemiologic features.