Affiliations: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Children's
Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Dominic A. Fitzgerald, Department of
Respiratory Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001,
Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2145. Tel.: +61 2 9845 3397; Fax: +61 2 9845
3396; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Lung abscess is an uncommon but challenging condition to manage.
Predisposing factors including pulmonary aspiration and impaired mucociliary
defense mechanisms increase the likelihood of developing a secondary lung
abscess. Aspirating anaerobic organisms from the mouth leading to pneumonia and
a secondary lung abscess is more likely to be seen in children with
neuro-cognitive impairment. The more likely anaerobic organisms include
Peptostreptococcus species, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella
melaninogenica. These organisms may be difficult to isolate without specific
anaerobic transport vials and culture media. The rise of interventional
radiology, higher positive culture results, better targeted antibiotic regimes
and a greater awareness of hospital acquired pathogens have been significant is
decreasing the length of hospitalization for children with lung abscesses. The
morbidity and mortality for lung abscess in children is vastly superior to that
in adult patients because of the lack of co-morbidities in the pediatric
population.
