purulent pneumonia

Definition: pneumonia caused by an organism that produces pus, implying that there can be destruction of lung tissue with permanent changes; usually sputum contains pus. Staphylococci, hemolytic streptococci, under streptococcus, and Friedländer bacillus are typical causes, as opposed to Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is rarely a cause of purulent pneumonia.

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© Copyright 2018 Wolters Kluwer. All Rights Reserved. Review date: Sep 19, 2016.

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