Introduction Suppurative inflammation of lung tissue within normal parenchyma result of autodigestion of tissue by inflammatory cells Etiology most often a result of aspiration of oropharyngeal material bronchial obstruction e.g. cancer sequela of bacterial pneumonia common pathogens include Bacteroides, Peptostreptococcus, Fusobacterium more often seen in the right lung than the left result of wider and straighter right mainstem bronchus if multiple foci present the cause is most likely hematogenous spreading Risk factors poor oral hygiene impaired swallowing immunosuppression altered consciousness includes seizures, dementia and alcoholism Presentation Symptoms fever, malaise cough with sputum production putrid or foul-smelling sputum weight loss, night sweats (subacute) Evaluation CXR infiltrates often with cavity in dependent portion of lung (depends on position) air-fluid level in cavity Labs leukocytosis Sputum may be helpful to identify etiologic organism though contamination is common