Lung Abscess

A number of things can cause a lung abscess, including:

• Not being able to cough. This often happens as a result of:
  • Anesthesia
  • Alcohol or drug use
  • Nervous system diseases
  • Sedation
• Poor oral health - People with gum disease are more likely to get an abscess.
• Your immune system isn’t working well - This can let in germs that aren’t usually found in your mouth or throat, like fungi or the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, strep throat, and MRSA
• Blocked airway - Mucus can form behind a tumor or foreign object in your windpipe and lead to an abscess. If bacteria get into the mucus, the blockage stops you from coughing it out.
• Blood-borne causes - It’s rare, but bacteria or infected blood clots from an infected part of your body can travel through your bloodstream and into your lung, where they cause an abscess.