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Pulmonary Infection

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Abstract

While ID is not always consulted for run-of-the-mill community-acquired pneumonia, assistance in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary infections are common requests. Infection can involve the gas-exchanging portion of the lungs (parenchyma) such as in pneumonia or areas that are not aerated, such as pleural infections (empyema). Other pathology, such as tumors, can alter typical physiology and create niches favorable for anaerobic bacteria. Understanding the source of infection (such as in community-acquired pneumonia versus hospital-acquired pneumonia) can further inform treatment choices. Microorganisms that have evolved to evade immune defenses, such as intracellular pathogens that can cause atypical pneumonias, keep us vigilant when selecting antibiotics. Furthermore, patients with structural lung disease are unable to clear organisms from their lower respiratory system and develop colonization by different species that can flare as infections. Pulmonary infections are nothing to sneeze at!

In this section, we will focus on aspiration pneumonia, some diagnostic considerations related to sputum, unique features of atypical pneumonias, and management considerations in patients with structural lung disease that are more vulnerable to pulmonary infection.

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  1. Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Alexander M. Tatara

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Tatara, A.M. (2023). Pulmonary Infection. In: The Infectious Diseases Consult Handbook. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39474-4_10

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