Lung abscess: an update on the current knowledge and call for future investigations

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Lung abscess is a severe respiratory infection with diverse risk factors.
• Emerging concerns include electronic cigarette use as a potential risk factor.
• The condition's complexity is highlighted by numerous case reports of rare presentations.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes recent publications on lung abscess.
• Key areas covered include epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
• Discussion includes novel diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Key Points:

• Risk factors encompass structural lung disease, poor dental hygiene, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
• Early transthoracic drainage may enhance in-hospital outcomes.
• Next-generation sequencing presents a potential advancement in diagnostics.

Conclusions:

• High-quality evidence and treatment guidelines for lung abscess remain limited.
• Prospective studies are essential to evaluate invasive procedures and antibiotic regimens.
• Further research is required to optimize lung abscess management.