由于抗生素的广泛使用以及其他可用治疗方案,过去几十年间,肺脓肿的发病率和死亡率均大幅下降。20 世纪 40 年代末及 50 年代,弃用坐姿进行口腔手术和扁桃体切除术的做法(因为很明显可导致肺脓肿)后,发病率也有所下降。[6]Schweppe HI, Knowles JH, Kane L. Lung abscess: an analysis of the Massachusetts General Hospital cases from 1943 through 1956. N Engl J Med. 1961;265:1039-1043.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14039097?tool=bestpractice.com
已有发达国家报告本病的模式发生变化,基础疾病(例如恶性肿瘤或免疫抑制)导致的继发性肺脓肿正变得越来越常见。[7]van den Berg JM, van Koppen E, Åhlin A, et al. Chronic granulomatous disease: the European experience. PLoS One. 2009;4:e5234.http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0005234http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19381301?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Pohlson EC, McNamara JJ, Char C, et al. Lung abscess: a changing pattern of disease. Am J Surg. 1985;150:97-101.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4014575?tool=bestpractice.com 1999-2003 年间,在法国儿科人群中观察到合并脓胸或肺脓肿的肺炎发病率增加。[9]Desrumaux A, Francois P, Pascal C, et al. Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of childhood parapneumonic empyemas [in French]. Arch Pediatr. 2007;14:1298-1303.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17631988?tool=bestpractice.com每年美国因肺脓肿入院的患者比例高达 4.0-5.5/10,000。[10]Chidi CC, Mendelsohn HJ. Lung abscess: a study of the results of treatment based on 90 consecutive cases. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1974;68:168-172.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4599759?tool=bestpractice.com任何年龄均可发病,最常见于 60-80 岁老年人,男性为主。[8]Pohlson EC, McNamara JJ, Char C, et al. Lung abscess: a changing pattern of disease. Am J Surg. 1985;150:97-101.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4014575?tool=bestpractice.com[11]Bartlett JG, Finegold SM. Anaerobic infections of the lung and pleural space. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1974;110:56-77.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4834618?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Salomone CA. Treatment of pulmonary abscess. Prensa Medica Argentina. 2002;89:2002.[13]Patradoon-Ho P, Fitzgerald DA. Lung abscess in children. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2007;8:77-84.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17419981?tool=bestpractice.com