Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Lemierre's syndrome is a rare, life-threatening condition caused by the anaerobic bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum, typically affecting otherwise healthy individuals. The case report aims to raise awareness of this often-overlooked condition to help prevent associated morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 22-year-old male who developed sepsis secondary to upper and lower respiratory tract infections. The patient experienced a four-week history of worsening cough and shortness of breath, followed by the onset of fever. His clinical condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to sepsis and type 1 respiratory failure, although invasive ventilation was not required. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the neck and chest revealed thrombosis of the right internal jugular and right pharyngeal veins, along with septic emboli in the lungs. Growth of Fusobacterium necrophorum in blood cultures confirmed the diagnosis of Lemierre’s syndrome. Aggressive treatment with antibiotics and anticoagulants resulted in a full recovery and resolution of thrombosis. Although rare, Lemierre's syndrome remains a potentially fatal condition, and clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.93042
Authors: Aimen Ayaz, Jishel Mathews, Salman Majeed, Arshad Jamil
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414428929