The Justin Rodgers Foundation (named after a teenager who died from Lemierre’s syndrome) has created a web site that will hopefully help patients and physicians. I have decided to go through my references and suggest this list as an important reading list for physicians wanting to learn more about Lemierre’s.
References
1. Lemierre A. On Certain Septicemias due to anaerobic organisms. The Lancet. 1936;1:701-703.
2. Eykyn SJ. Necrobacillosis. Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases Supplementum. 1989;62:41-46.
3. Golledge CL, Beaman MH, Weeramanthri T, Riley TV. Necrobacillosis–primary anaerobic septicaemia due to Fusobacterium necrophorum. Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine. 1990;20:702-704.
4. Harar RP, MacDonald A, Pullen D, Ganesan S, Prior AJ. Lemierre’s syndrome: are we underdiagnosing this life-threatening infection? ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 1996;58:178-181.
5. Hagelskjaer LH, Prag J, Malczynski J, Kristensen JH. Incidence and clinical epidemiology of necrobacillosis, including Lemierre’s syndrome, in Denmark 1990-1995. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1998;17:561-565.
6. Brazier JS, Hall V, Yusuf E, Duerden BI. Fusobacterium necrophorum infections in England and Wales 1990-2000. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2002;51:269-272.
7. Chirinos JA, Lichtstein DM, Garcia J, Tamariz LJ. The evolution of Lemierre syndrome: report of 2 cases and review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore). 2002;81:458-465.
8. Ramirez S, Hild T, Rudolph C et al. Increased Diagnosis of Lemierre Syndrome and Other Fusobacterium necrophorum Infections at a Children’s Hospital. PEDIATRICS. 2003;112:e380-e380.
9. Bliss SJ, Flanders SA, Saint S. Clinical problem-solving. A pain in the neck. N Engl J Med. 2004;350:1037-1042.
10. Brazier J. Human infections with Fusobacterium necrophorum. Anaerobe. 2006;12:165-172.
11. Jensen A, Hagelskjaer Kristensen L, Prag J. Detection of Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. funduliforme in tonsillitis in young adults by real-time PCR. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2007;13:695-701.
12. Riordan T. Human Infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum (Necrobacillosis), with a Focus on Lemierre’s Syndrome. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2007;20:622-659.
13. Hagelskjær Kristensen L, Prag J. Localised Fusobacterium necrophorum infections: a prospective laboratory-based Danish study. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2008;27:733-739.
14. Hagelskjær Kristensen L, Prag J. Lemierre’s syndrome and other disseminated Fusobacterium necrophorum infections in Denmark: a prospective epidemiological and clinical survey. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2008;27:779-789.
15. Lu MD, Vasavada Z, Tanner C. Lemierre syndrome following oropharyngeal infection: a case series. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM. 2009;22:79-83.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Dr. Centor,
I was given your web site from Tammy and Sheryl from the Justin Rogers Foundation. I am concerned for my 17 y.o. son who was diagnosed with L.S. 3 weeks ago. He was admitted to our local hospital for 2 days and then transfered to a bigger facility when the septic emboli was discovered. That is when we first learned about L.S. He was on IV zosyn for approx 8 days, when he had a local reaction from head to toe, and then was put on IV clindamyacin for 2 days and then on oral clindamyacin for less than 24 hours and discharged. We havent even been home for a week and he has already had a reaction to the clindamyacin. Today they now have switched him to metronidazole and cefadroxil. When he was discharged, he still had a small amt of fluid bilaterally, (Even with having a thoracentesis done on both sides, L-750ml R-800ml, 7days prior to discharge) the nodules had minimal shrinkage throughout his stay, and a hbg of 8.6. My son states having shortness of breath, bilateral lower lung pain, and extreme fatigue. I feel that he was discharged too soon. And from researching this disease, most every L.S. patient went home with a pic line, and approx 6 more weeks on IV antibiotics, then oral.(I dont wish for my son to have to go through that, but I want my son to get better) Im almost positive my son was one of two cases ever at this hospital, and the other patient was transfered to a University shortly after diagnosis. I would appreciate any information you are able to give me. I am frustrated, and want the best outcome for my son.
Thank you for your time,
Debbie Kokely
Dr. Centor,
I to was given your site from Sheryl and Tammy. After spending a week in and out of the doctor office and ER in our local hospital, on March 6th my 4 yr. old son was life flighted. He was in the ICU for 2 weeks where they found a blood clot in his jugular, nodules in his lungs (which he too complains of his chest hurting and buckles over in pain) he has had surgery on his right knee due to how bad the septic arthrites was. He had both ankeles, wrists and left knee aspirated because of the puss that was forming in his joints. He was discharged with a pic line and was getting high dos. of penicillin. He was home for a day and the admitted again since his veins could not take the penicillin…they then put a new pic line and and changed him to cefizolin. He is now out of his wheelchair and walking with a cast. My concern now is the doctors are at a stand still…he gets lovenox 30mg. twice a day and there has been no changes. He was also diagnosed with a IGA deficency. He was just admitted once again to the hostpital over mother’s day he started spiking a fever and became lethargic. I want to take him to a bigger hospital one that might have seen this before, but I am not getting anywhere. And most of the cases I am finding on line are older kids. If you could point me in the right direction I would be very thankful!!!
Sincerely
Jen
Dr. Centor,
Sister is in the hospital and being treated for Lemierre’s Syndrome. You mentioned a 5 step approach that you are / were going to publish. Is that out now and how do I find it. Would you consult with her Dr. Dr. Christian Schrock at North Memorial Hospital in Minnesota on her case?
Much appreciated,
Scott Bowman