Despite the high level of modern technologies in the field of laboratory methods and imaging of the respiratory system, the problem of early and accurate differential diagnosis of inflammatory lung diseases remains important in practical medicine. It leads to improved treatment results and a reduction in the number of complications (pleural empyema, fistulas, mediastinitis, sepsis, etc.), and in some cases allows to suspect the presence of a primary purulent source in the body, as in the case of septic pulmonary embolism. The review examines the features of S. aureus as a pathogen of lung diseases, relevant epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features and imaging diagnostics of various types of inflammatory changes in the lungs with a focus on destruction.