Lemierre's syndrome: Difference between revisions

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*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>  
*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]]
*Usually affects young, healthy adults, most often developing after [[Strep Pharyngitis]] causing [[Peritonsilar Abscess|peritonsilar abscess]]
**[[Anerobic Bacteria]] grow in the [[PTA]] and penetrate into the neighboring jugular vein causing thrombophlebitis and bacteremia and septic emboli and occassionally [[pneumonia]] and [[sepsis]]
**[[Anerobic Bacteria]] grow in the [[Peritonsilar Abscess|peritonsilar abscess]] and penetrate into the neighboring jugular vein causing thrombophlebitis and bacteremia and septic emboli and occassionally [[pneumonia]] and [[sepsis]]


===Epidemiology===
===Epidemiology===
Very rare, incidence rate of 0.8 cases per million in the general population<ref>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.</ref>
*Very rare, incidence rate of 0.8 cases per million in the general population<ref>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.</ref>
*When diagnosed, mortality is 4.6%<ref>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</ref>


==Diagnosis==
==Clinical Features==
*Persistent sore throat, [[fever]], and general weakness
*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]]
***[[Septic Arthritis]]
***[[Septic Arthritis]]
***[[Meningitis]]
***[[Meningitis]]
***[[Sepsis]]
***[[Sepsis]]
***Intracranial complications (6%)


==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
* [[Q fever]]
*[[Q fever]]
* [[Tuberculosis]]
*[[Tuberculosis]]
* [[Pneumonia]]
*[[Pneumonia]]
*Viral [[pharyngitis]]
*[[Mononucleosis]]-like illnesses (EBV, CMV, acute HIV)
*[[Peritonsillar abscess]] vs. [[Retropharyngeal abscess]] vs. [[Ludwig's angina]]
*[[Mumps]]
*[[Sjögren Syndrome]]
*Heerfordt's syndrome (small percentage of [[sarcoidosis]])


==Workup==
{{Sore throat DDX}}
 
==Evaluation==
===Workup===
[[File:Lemierre Kilpatrick.gif|thumbnail|POCUS shows IJ thrombus<ref>http://www.thepocusatlas.com/soft-tissue-vascular/</ref>]]
*CTA of neck
*CTA of neck
*Point of care [[ultrasound]] may reveal IJ thrombus
*[[Blood Cultures]]
*[[Blood Cultures]]
===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==
==Management==
*Antibiotics
*Antibiotics (coverage of [[F. necrophorum]], [[strep]], [[bacteroides]]) - [[Unasyn]], [[Zosyn]], or [[carbapenem]] for at least 3-4 wks
**IV [[Antibiotics]]
**IV [[Antibiotics]]
*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>
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==Disposition==
==Disposition==
*Admit
*Admit
**When diagnosed, mortality is 4.6%<ref>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</ref>


==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Peritonsilar Abscess]]
*[[Peritonsillar abscess]]
*[[Sepsis]]
*[[Sepsis]]


==Sources==
==Video==
{{#widget:YouTube|id=-UOjKNn-xqA}}
 
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:ID]]
[[Category:ENT]]

Revision as of 21:04, 30 September 2019

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

Differential Diagnosis

Acute Sore Throat

Bacterial infections

Viral infections

Noninfectious

Other

Evaluation

Workup

POCUS shows IJ thrombus[5]

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

Video

{{#widget:YouTube|id=-UOjKNn-xqA}}

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.