Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 8 , Pages 478-481 , November 2009

Lemierre syndrome and unexpected death in childhood

  • John D. Gilbert (FRCPA (Forensic Pathologist))

      Affiliations

    • Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, Australia
    • ,
  • Morgyn S. Warner (MD PhD (Clinical Microbiologist))

      Affiliations

    • Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, Australia
    • ,
  • Roger W. Byard (MBBS MD (Forensic Pathologist))

      Affiliations

    • Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, Australia
    • Discipline of Pathology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Discipline of Pathology, Level 3 Medical School North Building, The University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide 5005, Australia. Tel.: +61 8 8303 5441; fax: +61 8 8303 4408.

Received 25 January 2009 ,Accepted 1 July 2009.

References 

  1. Lemierre A. On certain septicæmias due to anaerobic organisms. Lancet. 1936;i:701–703
  2. Hagelskjar Kristensen L, Prag J. Human necrobacillosis. With emphasis on Lemierre’s syndrome. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;31:524–532
  3. Williams MD, Kerber CA, Tergin HF. Unusual presentation of Lemierre’s syndrome due to Fusobacterium nucleatum. J Clin Microbiol. 2003;41:3445–3448
  4. Moore-Gillon J, Lee TH, Eykyn SJ, Phillips I. Necrobacillosis: a forgotten disease. Br Med J. 1984;288:1526–1527
  5. Weesner CL, Cisek JE. Lemierre syndrome: the forgotten disease. Ann Emerg Med. 1993;22:256–258
  6. Carlson ER, Bergamo DF, Coccia CT. Lemierre’s syndrome: two cases of a forgotten disease. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1994;52:74–78
  7. Riordan T, Wilson M. Lemierre’s syndrome: more than a historical curiosa. Postgrad Med J. 2004;80:328–334
  8. Banner Lundemose J, Frederikson P, Kristensen IB. Lemierre syndrome. Three cases of “the forgotten” disease. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2006;1:257–260
  9. Hagelskjær 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
  10. Ramirez S, Hild TG, Rudolph CN, Sty JR, Kehl SC, Havens P, et al. Increased diagnosis of Lemierre syndrome and other Fusobacterium necrophorum infections at a children’s hospital. Pediatrics. 2003;112:e380–e385
  11. Smith NM, Bourne AJ, Clapton WC, Byard RW. The spectrum of presentation at autopsy of myocarditis in infancy and childhood. Pathology. 1992;24:129–130
  12. Byard RW. Sudden death in infancy, childhood and adolescence. 2nd ed.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2004;
  13. Byard RW, Silver MM. Sudden infant death and acute posterior lingual inflammation. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 1993;28:77–81
  14. Byard RW. Unexpected death due to infectious mononucleosis. J Forensic Sci. 2002;47:202–204
  15. Byard RW, Bourne AJ. Cardiac echinococcosis with fatal intracerebral embolism. Arch Dis Child. 1991;66:155–156
  16. Moreno S, García Altozano J, Pinilla B, López JC, de Quirós B, Ortega A, et al. Lemierre’s disease: postanginal bacteremia and pulmonary involvement caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. Rev Infect Dis. 1989;11:319–324
  17. Alston JM. Necrobacillosis in Great Britain. Br Med J. 1955;ii:1524–1528
  18. Paaske PB, Rasmussen BM, Illum P. Fusobacterium pneumonia and death following uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty. Head Neck. 1994;16:450–452
  19. Brook I, Frazier EH. Aerobic and anaerobic infection associated with malignancy. Support Care Cancer. 1998;6:125–131
  20. Møller K, Dreijer B. Post-anginal sepsis (Lemierre’s disease) – a persistent challenge. Scand J Infect Dis. 1997;29:191–194
  21. Dagan R, Powell KR. Postanginal sepsis following infectious mononucleosis. Arch Int Med. 1987;147:1581–1583
  22. Koay CB, Heyworth T, Burden P. Lemierre syndrome: a forgotten complication of acute tonsillitis. J Laryngol Otol. 1995;109:657–661
  23. De Sena S, Rosenfeld DL, Santos S, Keller I. Jugular thrombophlebitis complicating bacterial pharyngitis (Lemierre’s syndrome). Pediatr Radiol. 1996;26:141–144
  24. Sinave CP, Hardy GJ, Fardy PW. The Lemierre syndrome: suppurative thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein secondary to oropharyngeal infection. Medicine (Baltimore). 1989;68:85–94
  25. Alvarez A, Schreiber JR. Lemierre’s syndrome in adolescent children – anaerobic sepsis with internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis following pharyngitis. Pediatrics. 1995;96:354–359
  26. Goldhagen J, Alford BA, Prewitt LH, Thomson L, Hostetter MK. Suppurative thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein: report of three cases and review of the pediatric literature. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1988;7:410–414
  27. Goldenberg NA, Knapp-Clevenger R, Hays T, Manco-Johnson MJ. Lemierre’s and Lemierre’s-like syndromes in children: survival and thromboembolic outcomes. Pediatrics. 2005;116:e543–e548
  28. Jacobs JA, Hendriks JJE, Verschure PDMM, van der Wurff AM, Freling G, Vos GD, et al. Meningitis due to Fusobacterium necrophorum subspecies necrophorum. Case report and review of the literature. Infection. 1993;21:57–60
  29. Chow AW. Life-threatening infections of the head and neck. Clin Infect Dis. 1992;14:991–1002
  30. Zeitoun IM, Dhanarajani PJ. Cervical cellulitis and mediastinitis caused by odontogenic infections: report of two cases and review of literature. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1995;53:203–208
  31. Marty-Ane C-H, Alauzen M, Alric P, Serres-Cousine O, Mary H. Descending necrotising mediastinitis. Advantage of mediastinal drainage with thoracotomy. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1994;107:55–61
  32. Leugers CM, Clover R. Lemierre syndrome: postanginal sepsis. J Am Board Fam Pract. 1995;8:384–391
  33. Henry S, DeMaria A, McCabe WR. Bacteremia due to Fusobacterium species. Am J Med. 1983;75:225–231

PII: S1752-928X(09)00109-7

doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2009.07.005

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 8 , Pages 478-481 , November 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution