[Abscessing pneumonia]

Among the patient of a prospective study aimed to recognize the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pneumonias, cavitating pneumonia occurred in 12.5%, typical lung abscess in 24 cases and necrotizing pneumonia in 11 cases. The illness was secondary in 4 cases. Predisposing factors were present in the majority of the patients. Assumable pathogen was detected with microbiological examinations in 24 cases. 20 patient recovered--19 by antibiotic therapy and one by surgery--were operated on the average in 7 weeks. Complication occurred in 15 patients 7 of them died. The prognosis of cavitating pneumonias is favourable, however the mortality is high in the secondary cases.