Lemierre syndrome.
Lemierre syndrome is a disease that presents with oropharyngeal infection, sepsis, internal jugular vein thrombosis, and septic emboli with the Gram-negative organism Fusobacterium necrophorum cultured as the etiologic agent. Clindamycin, metronidazole and ampicillin-sulbactam are effective antibiotic treatments, although the length of treatment has not been firmly established. The syndrome is seen less frequently in the current age of antibiotics. It is important, however, that physicians be aware of the syndrome as initiation of prompt antibiotic therapy, including anaerobic coverage, is essential for avoiding morbidity and mortality. We describe a case of Lemierre syndrome.
Nadkarni
Milan D
MD
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Verchick
Julie
J
O'Neill
James C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005675:Fusobacterium necrophorum / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D013577:Syndrome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002981:Clindamycin