Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) guided drainage in the treatment of a patient with lung abscess secondary to hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) infection: A case report

Abstract

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) can cause lung abscess, serious infection, and has a high mortality. Drainage plays a key role in the treatment of lung abscess secondary to hvKP. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can identify necrotic areas within peripheral pulmonary lesions. We report a case in which thoracic CEUS using solution of sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles (SonoVue®, Bracco, Milan, Italy) was better than computed tomography (CT) in depicting lung abscess from consolidation secondary to hvKP, and its role in guiding drainage of lung abscess. CEUS is a promising imaging technique for confirming an appropriate time for drainage of lung abscess secondary to hvKP, for point-of-care application in critical patients with impaired renal function which may be aggravated by CT contrast medium.

Keywords

• Contrast-enhanced ultrasound
• Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Lung abscess
• Drainage