title: [Can anaerobic culture of throat swabs prevent Lemierre's syndrome?].
abstract: Six cases of Lemierre's syndrome were reported from 2004 to 2007 at Viborg Hospital, corresponding to 33 cases per year in Denmark. All six patients were healthy younger persons presenting with a suspected bacterial tonsillitis which had been found strep A antigen negative. Fusobacterium necrophorum was found in throat swabs by anaerobic culture on selective media and/or by real-time PCR. We recommend that all patients 10 to 40 years of age with strep A antigentest negative bacterial tonsillitis have throat swabs anaerobically cultured on selective media. We believe early identification and therapy may prevent progression to Lemierre's syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Medicinsk Afdeling, Regionshospitalet Viborg, DK-8800 Viborg. gehrt@get2net.dk
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gehrt
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Lena Hagelskjaer
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prag
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005675:Fusobacterium necrophorum / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008297:Male; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013577:Syndrome; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000382:microbiology; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult