Lung abscess in childhood

Lung abscess continues to be a significant problem in childhood. Eighty-three cases of this condition have been reviewed. From the available data these have been found to fall into two groups which have been classified as primary and secondary. Consideration of the aetiology has revealed that the commonly quoted predisposing features, namely tonsillectomy and foreign body aspiration, are no longer of such paramount importance. The causative organism is a staphylococcus in the majority of cases. This is at variance with other published findings. The more general use of antibiotics in all respiratory diseases is responsible for some of the changing patterns noted. The management of lung abscess in childhood also presents a changing picture. Bronchoscopy is being supplanted by more conservative measures.     

Mycobacterium fortuitum lung abscess treated with ciprofloxacin.

Mycobacterium fortuitum rarely causes lung disease. Although treatment in the past has included intravenous antibiotics, this is the first report of a Mycobacterium fortuitum lung abscess that resolved with a prolonged course of oral ciprofloxacin alone. There is no evidence of recurrence 14 months after the end of treatment.     

Traumatic brain abscess and meningitis: Cure effected with penicillin and sulfadiazine

This patient with brain abscess was cured by three direct instillations of penicillin into the abscess cavity for a total of 75,000 units, and the resulting meningitis arising therefrom was treated by an additional 75,000 units of penicillin injected into the spinal canal, plus the use of sulfadiazine.     

Lung abscess due to retained gallstones with an adenocarcinoma

We describe a patient who had a right lower lobe mass containing calcifications consistent with gallstones develop 3(1)/(2) years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Thoracotomy revealed a chronic abscess containing pigmented gallstones and an adjacent area of bronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma involving both N1 and N2 lymph nodes.     

Lung abscess secondary to xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis

In a patient with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis the initial clinical and radiological picture suggested a diagnosis of lung abscess.     

Epidural abscess after epidural analgesia treated successfully with antibiotics

Spinal extradural abscess is an infrequent but serious complication to extradural catheters. Early diagnosis is essential for successful treatment. An extradural abscess may develop slowly over days to several weeks and symptoms may be vague and unspecific, delaying correct diagnosis. Meticulous supervision of the patients is required and must continue as long as an epidural catheter is in place and for some time after the catheter has been withdrawn. This case report describes a patient undergoing extensive reconstructive plastic surgery after a leg trauma. For postoperative pain treatment a continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine was given. After 10–14 days an extradural abscess developed with increasing low back pain but without any neurologic symptoms. With antibiotics a complete resolution of the extradural abscess occurred, documented by computerized tomography (CT).     

Penetrating wound of the abdomen treated with penicillin: Case report

Two cases of unusual hernias, namely, left superficial interparietal inguinal hernia and bilateral direct inguinal and femoral hernias are reported.     

Lung abscess predicts the surgical outcome in patients with pleural empyema

Objectives  

Most cases of pleural empyema are caused by pulmonary infections, which are usually combined with pneumonia or lung abscess. The mortality of patients with pleural empyema remains high (up to 20%). It also contributes to higher hospital costs and longer hospital stays. We studied pleural empyema with combined lung abscess to determine if abscess was associated with mortality.