pulmonary infection

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Pulmonary infections are common and are caused by a wide range of organisms.

Pathology

Micro-organisms responsible may enter the lung by three potential routes:

via the tracheobronchial tree

most commonly due to inhalation of droplets of secretions from another infected human
environmental exposure e.g. fungal spores

via the pulmonary vasculature

direct injection e.g. intravenous drug use
secondary seeding from distant infection e.g. infective bacterial endocarditis

via direct spread from infection in the mediastinum, chest wall, or upper abdomen

Pulmonary infections may also be divided according to macroscopic appearances into:

consolidation
- lobar pneumonia
- lobular pneumonia (or bronchopneumonia)
pulmonary abscess
interstitial pneumonia

Alternatively, the causative agent may be used to categorize infections. Having said that, in many cases a particular agent may cause a number of radiographic and pathological appearances depending on the stage of the infection and on the immune status of the host.

Please refer to the following articles for discussion of specific entities: