Lung abscess due to Streptococcus pneumoniae: a case series and brief review of the literature.

Antonello Nicolini,Renata Senarega,Cornelius Barlascini,Gianluca Ferraioli,Catia Cilloniz

doi:10.5603/piap.2014.0033

Antonello Nicolini, Renata Senarega + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.5603/piap.2014.0033

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Journal: Pneumonologia i alergologia polska	Publication Date: Apr 30, 2014
Citations: 26	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: ATS Sardegna (Italy)

Abstract

Anaerobes used to be the most common cause of community-acquired lung abscess, and Streptococcus species used to be the second most common cause. In recent years, this has been changing. Klebsiella pneumoniae is now an increasing cause of community- acquired lung abscess, but Streptococcus species continue to be major pathogens. Necrotizing pneumonia has generally been regarded as a rare complication of pneumococcal infection in adults. Type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae was the single most common type implicated in necrosis; however, many other serotypes were implicated. This entity predominately infects children, but is present also in adults. Lung abscess in adults due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is not common. In this regard we present a case series of pulmonary cavitation due to Streptococcus pneumoniae and discuss the possible pathogenic mechanism of the disease.

Highlights

Anaerobes used to be the most common cause of community-acquired lung abscess, and Streptococcus species used to be the second most common cause of this problem
In a retrospective review conducted by Yen et al covering twenty years (1982–2002), 23 patients presented with a lung abscess; the most common micro-organism isolated was again Streptococcus pneumoniae [5]
The blood culture collected in the emergency department on admission was positive for coagulase-negative pathogens, the culture of cerebrospinal fluid and the bronchial aspirate (BAS) were positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae, the serotype was 12F

Summary

Introduction

Anaerobes used to be the most common cause of community-acquired lung abscess, and Streptococcus species used to be the second most common cause of this problem. Klebsiella pneumoniae is an increasing cause of community-acquired lung abscess [1], but Streptococcus species remain major pathogens. In a retrospective review conducted by Yen et al covering twenty years (1982–2002), 23 patients presented with a lung abscess; the most common micro-organism isolated was again Streptococcus pneumoniae [5].

Results

Conclusion