E. coli lung abscess

An *Escherichia coli* lung abscess is a severe, necrotizing pulmonary infection characterized by the formation of one or more pus-filled cavitary lesions within the lung parenchyma caused by the Gram-negative bacillus *E. coli* Typically affecting the lower respiratory tract, it predominantly occurs in hospitalized, debilitated, or immunocompromised patients, as well as individuals predisposed to aspiration of gastrointestinal secretions or hematogenous seeding from an extrapulmonary focus, such...

Typically affecting the lower respiratory tract, it predominantly occurs in hospitalized, debilitated, or immunocompromised patients, as well as individuals predisposed to aspiration of gastrointestinal secretions or hematogenous seeding from an extrapulmonary focus, such as a urinary tract or intra-abdominal infection

Pathophysiologically, the organism incites intense local inflammation leading to liquefactive tissue necrosis, cavity formation, and air-fluid levels visible on chest imaging Patients commonly present with productive cough yielding purulent or foul-smelling sputum, high fever, chills, pleuritic chest pain, leukocytosis, and constitutional symptoms like fatigue and weight loss