The role of Fusobacterium necrophorum in pharyngotonsillitis - A review.
Fusobacterium necrophorum is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that is the causative agent of the invasive disease Lemierre's syndrome. In addition, it is also associated with peritonsillar abscess formation and otitis media in small children. Recent research has shown that F. necrophorum may be involved in pharyngotonsillitis especially in adolescent and young adults and that it may be the second most common bacterial cause of pharyngotonsillitis after Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococci). Peritonsillar abscesses and Lemierre's syndrome due to F. necrophorum are also found in this age group, suggesting that they may be complications of F. necrophorum pharyngotonsillitis. In this review we present the present knowledge about the role of F. necrophorum in pharyngotonsillitis with special emphasis on the age distribution. We argue that F. necrophorum is an important pathogen involved in pharyngotonsillitis in the age group of 13-40 years of age and we urge clinical microbiology labs to set up the appropriate techniques to be able to detect F. necrophorum from throat swabs.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
Karin
K
Holm
Department of Medicine, Viborg Regional Hospital, Denmark.
Steffen
S
Bank
Department Clinical Microbiology, Viborg Regional Hospital, Denmark.
Hanne
H
Nielsen
Department of Medicine, Viborg Regional Hospital, Denmark.
Lena Hagelskjær
LH
Kristensen
Department Clinical Microbiology, Viborg Regional Hospital, Denmark.
Jørgen
J
Prag
Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Denmark. Electronic address: aj@biomed.au.dk.
Anders
A
Jensen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005675:Fusobacterium necrophorum / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D057831:Lemierre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Fusobacterium necrophorum; Lemierre; Lemierre's syndrome; Peritonsillar abscess; Pharyngitis; Pharyngotonsillitis; Tonsillitis