Therapy
The therapy of pus in the lungs has several frequently applied approaches and depends very much on the individual situation and the course of the disease. It includes approaches to positively influence the healing process with or without medication, a targeted and efficient antibiotic therapy. Initially, in most cases a broad spectrum of pathogens is covered antibiotically and the therapy is continued in a more targeted manner as soon as the triggering pathogen can be identified with the help of laboratory diagnostics.
Depending on factors such as age, general state of health and consciousness and the antibiotic chosen, hospitalization and treatment may also be necessary, as many drugs can only be administered directly into the vein in hospital. Patients are also advised to take care of their bodies, drink sufficient fluids in the form of water or unsweetened tea, possibly receive oxygen through nasal cannula and are prescribed medication to reduce fever and mucus. Depending on the individual initial and general situation, breathing training or moist inhalation may also be used to dissolve mucus.
Which antibiotic is to be used for pus in the lungs must always be carefully considered and decided by the physician. Antibiotics from the class of aminopenicillins are frequently used. If necessary, these must be combined with another group of drugs, the so-called beta-lactamase inhibitors, in order to make the mode of action even more potent.
If there is an allergy or intolerance to penicillins, antibiotics such as macrolides or fluoroquinolones can be used. In the case of severe disease progression, broad-spectrum and/or reserve antibiotics must be resorted to in order to specifically combat the inflammation and prevent the formation of resistance. If there is mucus in the lungs, i.e. in the airways, a solution of the mucus and subsequent expectoration of it should be sought.
If this is not possible, a lung endoscopy (bronchoscopy) can be performed by a physician. During this procedure, the doctor can get an overview of the situation and suck out any viscous, stuck mucus. If there is a lung abscess in connection with pneumonia, the abscess can be drained during a bronchoscopy. However, if the abscess is due to another primary cause (such as a foreign body or other tumor), surgical treatment of this cause may also be necessary.
