aspiration
Last reviewed 01/2018
Aspiration of infective material is the most common cause of a lung abscess.
It is most common in situations in which the cough reflexes are depressed - for example:
- acute alcoholism
- coma
- anaesthesia
- sinusitis
- oral or pharyngeal sepsis
- debilitation
The aspiration of gastric contents is particularly severe as it introduces acid in addition to organisms from the mouth.