Lemierre's syndrome: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==Background==
*Also known as "Lemierre's disease" and "postanginal shock including sepsis" and "human necrobacillosis"
*Also known as "Lemierre's disease" and "postanginal shock including sepsis" and "human necrobacillosis"
*Is a form of [[thrombophlebitis]]<ref>"Lemierre syndrome" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary</ref>  
*Is a form of [[thrombophlebitis]]<ref>"Lemierre syndrome" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary</ref> and defined by a history of recent oropharyngeal infection, clinical or radiological evidence of IJ venous thrombosis and anaerobic bacteremia caused primarily by [[Fusobacterium necrophorum]]
*Usually caused by ''[[Fusobacterium necrophorum]]'', and occasionally by other members of the genus ''Fusobacterium'' (''F. nucleatum, F. mortiferum and F. varium'' etc.) or [[MRSA]]
*Usually caused by ''[[Fusobacterium necrophorum]]'', and occasionally by other members of the genus ''Fusobacterium'' (''F. nucleatum, F. mortiferum and F. varium'' etc.) or [[MRSA]]
*Usually affects young, healthy adults, most often developing after [[Strep Pharyngitis]] causing [[Peritonsilar Abscess|peritonsilar abscess]]
*Usually affects young, healthy adults, most often developing after [[Strep Pharyngitis]] causing [[Peritonsilar Abscess|peritonsilar abscess]]
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==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
*Persistent sore throat, [[fever]], and general weakness
[[File:PMC3663068 kjo-27-219-g002.png|thumb|Example of an intracranial complication: paresis of the abducens nerve (demonstrated in the right eye when looking to the right).]]
*Persistent [[sore throat]], [[fever]], and general [[weakness]]
*2 days - 2 weeks after initial symptoms:
*2 days - 2 weeks after initial symptoms:
**lethargy, fevers, lymphadenopathy, painful neck
**Lethargy, [[fevers]], [[lymphadenopathy]], [[neck pain|painful neck]]
**Often abdominal pain, [[diarrhea]], [[nausea and vomiting]]
**Often [[abdominal pain]], [[diarrhea]], [[nausea and vomiting]]
**May lead to:
**May lead to:
***[[Pneumonia]]
***[[Pneumonia]]
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==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
* [[Q fever]]
*[[Q fever]]
* [[Tuberculosis]]
*[[Tuberculosis]]
* [[Pneumonia]]
*[[Pneumonia]]
* Viral pharyngitis
*Viral [[pharyngitis]]
* Mononucleosis-like illnesses (EBV, CMV, acute HIV)
*[[Mononucleosis]]-like illnesses (EBV, CMV, acute HIV)
* PTA vs. RA vs. Ludwig's
*[[Peritonsillar abscess]] vs. [[Retropharyngeal abscess]] vs. [[Ludwig's angina]]
* Mumps
*[[Mumps]]
* Sjogren's
*[[Sjögren Syndrome]]
* Heerfordt's syndrome (small percentage of sarcoidosis)
*Heerfordt's syndrome (small percentage of [[sarcoidosis]])


{{Sore throat DDX}}
{{Sore throat DDX}}


==Diagnosis==
==Evaluation==
[[File:Lemierre Kilpatrick.gif|thumbnail|POCUS shows IJ thrombus<ref>http://www.thepocusatlas.com/soft-tissue-vascular/</ref>]]
[[File:PMC2813609 ASM-29-58-g001.png|thumb|CT of the neck showing partial thrombosis of the right internal jugular vein (black arrow) and complete thrombosis of the right external jugular vein (white arrow).]]
===Workup===
===Workup===
*CTA of neck
*CTA of neck
*Point of care US may reveal IJ thrombus
*Point of care [[ultrasound]] may reveal IJ thrombus
*[[Blood Cultures]]
*[[Blood Cultures]]


===Evaluation===
===Evaluation===
*Diagnostic criteria
Diagnostic criteria:
**Hx of oropharynx pain within last 4 wks
*History of oropharynx pain within last 4 wks
**Evidence of IJV thrombophlebitis/carotid sheath
*Evidence of IJV thrombophlebitis/carotid sheath
**Isolation of F. necrophorum from blood
*Isolation of F. necrophorum from blood
**Evidence of metastatic infection in another site (lungs)
*Evidence of metastatic infection in another site (lungs)


==Management==
==Management==
*Antibiotics (coverage of F. necrophorum, strep, bacteroides) - Unasyn, Zosyn, or carbapenam for at least 3-4 wks
*Antibiotics (specifically anaerobic coverage of [[F. necrophorum]] PLUS [[strep]], AND [[bacteroides]])
**IV [[Antibiotics]]
**[[Unasyn]], [[Zosyn]], or [[carbapenem]] for at least 3-4 wks
*Drainage of abscess
*Drainage of [[abscess]]
*Consider ligation of the internal jugular vein where antibiotic can not penetrate.<ref>Chirinos JA, Lichtstein DM, Garcia J, Tamariz LJ (November 2002). "The evolution of Lemierre syndrome: report of 2 cases and review of the literature". Medicine (Baltimore) (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins) 81 (6): 458–465. doi:10.1097/00005792-200211000-00006. PMID 12441902.</ref>
*Consider ligation of the internal jugular vein where antibiotic can not penetrate.<ref>Chirinos JA, Lichtstein DM, Garcia J, Tamariz LJ (November 2002). "The evolution of Lemierre syndrome: report of 2 cases and review of the literature". Medicine (Baltimore) (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins) 81 (6): 458–465. doi:10.1097/00005792-200211000-00006. PMID 12441902.</ref>
*No evidence for or against anticoagulation<ref>Puymirat E, Biais M, Camou F, Lefèvre J, Guisset O, Gabinski C (March 2008). "A Lemierre's syndrome variant caused by Staphylococcus aureus". American journal of emergency medicine test (Elsevier) 26 (3): 380–387. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2007.05.020. PMID 18358967.</ref>
*No evidence for or against anticoagulation<ref>Puymirat E, Biais M, Camou F, Lefèvre J, Guisset O, Gabinski C (March 2008). "A Lemierre's syndrome variant caused by Staphylococcus aureus". American journal of emergency medicine test (Elsevier) 26 (3): 380–387. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2007.05.020. PMID 18358967.</ref><ref>Hoehn KS. Lemierre’s syndrome: the controversy of anticoagulation. Pediatrics. 2005;6(5):1415–1416.</ref>


==Disposition==
==Disposition==
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==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Peritonsilar abscess]]
*[[Peritonsillar abscess]]
*[[Sepsis]]
*[[Sepsis]]
==Video==
{{#widget:YouTube|id=-UOjKNn-xqA}}


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 20:12, 17 April 2024

Background

Epidemiology

  • Very rare, incidence rate of 0.8 cases per million in the general population[2]
  • When diagnosed, mortality is 4.6%[3]

Clinical Features

Example of an intracranial complication: paresis of the abducens nerve (demonstrated in the right eye when looking to the right).

Differential Diagnosis

Acute Sore Throat

Bacterial infections

Viral infections

Noninfectious

Other

Evaluation

POCUS shows IJ thrombus[5]
CT of the neck showing partial thrombosis of the right internal jugular vein (black arrow) and complete thrombosis of the right external jugular vein (white arrow).

Workup

Evaluation

Diagnostic criteria:

  • History of oropharynx pain within last 4 wks
  • Evidence of IJV thrombophlebitis/carotid sheath
  • Isolation of F. necrophorum from blood
  • Evidence of metastatic infection in another site (lungs)

Management

Disposition

  • Admit

See Also

References

  1. "Lemierre syndrome" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  2. Sibai K, Sarasin F (2004). "Lemierre syndrome: a diagnosis to keep in mind". Revue médicale de la Suisse romande (in French) 124 (11): 693–5. PMID 15631168.
  3. Centor RM. "Expand the Pharyngitis Paradigm for Adolescents and Young Adults." Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(11):812-815. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-151-11-200912010-00011
  4. Melio, Frantz, and Laurel Berge. “Upper Respiratory Tract Infection.” In Rosen’s Emergency Medicine., 8th ed. Vol. 1, n.d.
  5. http://www.thepocusatlas.com/soft-tissue-vascular/
  6. Chirinos JA, Lichtstein DM, Garcia J, Tamariz LJ (November 2002). "The evolution of Lemierre syndrome: report of 2 cases and review of the literature". Medicine (Baltimore) (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins) 81 (6): 458–465. doi:10.1097/00005792-200211000-00006. PMID 12441902.
  7. Puymirat E, Biais M, Camou F, Lefèvre J, Guisset O, Gabinski C (March 2008). "A Lemierre's syndrome variant caused by Staphylococcus aureus". American journal of emergency medicine test (Elsevier) 26 (3): 380–387. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2007.05.020. PMID 18358967.
  8. Hoehn KS. Lemierre’s syndrome: the controversy of anticoagulation. Pediatrics. 2005;6(5):1415–1416.