Anaerobic infections of the lung and pleural space

Data are presented on 143 patients with anaerobic pleuropulmonary infection. The major categories of disease in these patients were pneumonitis (without evidence of cavitation), lung abscess, necrotizing pneumonia, and empyema (the last category usually overlapping one of the others). Details on predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, bacteriologic data, clinical course, therapy, and prognosis are presented. Prospective data obtained as part of this study indicated that anaerobes are the predominant cause of aspiration pneumonia and of lung abscess and necrotizing pneumonia. Anaerobic bacteria are also a major cause of empyema when postoperative cases are excluded.