The severity of a lung abscess varies from person to person and depends largely on the patient’s physical condition, the virulence of the pathogenic bacteria and whether anti-infective treatment is appropriately administered.
In general, with early, timely and effective treatment, the abscess cavity can be completely absorbed or only a small amount of fibrous scarring remains. The prognosis for some patients with larger and more numerous abscesses, who are weaker, or who fail to be treated aggressively, may be poorer.
Overall, the overall mortality rate for lung abscesses is 5% to 10%, based on current statistics.