Lemierre’s Syndrome

Abstract

Fusobacterium necrophorum is a non-spore forming anaerobic gram-negative bacillus and has traditionally been associated with Lemierre’s syndrome, an infectious thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein.Fusobacterium necrophorum is commonly associated with pharyngitis, tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscesses similar to that of group A streptococcus, and is accounted for up to 10% of cases of pharyngitis in adolescents and young adults[1].Lemierre disease, which was first described in 1936, is a clinical syndrome characterized by tonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess as an initial presentation which then progresses to septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, bacteraemia, septic emboli, metastatic infections such as pulmonary abscess and even death[2,3].While pharyngitis or tonsillitis are accounted for majority of cases of Lemierre’s syndrome, pneumonia or chest empyema is the most common metastatic site of this infection [3].