Risk factors for septic pulmonary emboli:
(1) intravenous drug abuse
(2) infected intravascular device (IV catheter, pacemaker, prosthetic valve)
(3) septic thrombophlebitis
(4) Lemierre syndrome
Clinical features:
(1) fever
(2) dyspnea
(3) chest pain
(4) cough
(5) hemoptysis
Changes seen on chest imaging:
(1) well-defined peripheral or subpleural nodules
(2) various stages of cavitation
(3) associated with pulmonary veins where lodged
Blood cultures may be positive. Common pathogens include:
(1) Staphylococcus aureus
(2) Fusobacterium necrophorum
(3) Klebsiella pneumoniae
(4) Streptococcus viridans
Complications may include:
(1) respiratory failure
(2) sepsis with shock
(3) empyema
(4) renal failure
