scholarly journals Lemierre’s syndrome causing profound thrombocytopenia and respiratory failure: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Below ◽  
Elizabeth Williams

Abstract Background Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare oropharyngeal infection that can lead to metastatic septic emboli and thrombocytopenia. However, current literature does not report an effect on other cell lines, which we report for the first time in this case. Case A previously healthy young African American male presented with profound thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. He was tachypenic on presentation which progressed to respiratory failure requiring intubation. Blood cultures grew Fusobacterium necrophorum and imaging revealed internal jugular venous thrombosis. He was later diagnosed with Lemierre’s syndrome. The patient was treated with zosyn and fully recovered with no residual deficits in hemoglobin, white cell count, platelet level, or renal function. Conclusion Lemierre’s syndrome can cause severe disease in otherwise healthy patients via septicemia and widespread metastatic foci which can cause severe illness. While pulmonary complications are most common, there is little report of effects on other organ systems such as bone marrow and the kidneys. Clinicians should readily evaluate for Lemierre’s syndrome as the complications are severe and can lead to multiorgan failure.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
John Gaskill ◽  
Michael Aronson

Once coined the “Forgotten Disease,” Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare condition that results from oropharyngeal infection with the gram-negative, anaerobic Fusobacterium necrophorum. The typical progression of illness involves spread to adjacent structures such as the internal jugular vein with resulting thrombophlebitis. Septic emboli to distant sites are also a common sequela. Here, we present a case of Lemierre’s syndrome in a 20-year-old, otherwise healthy, male. The patient presented with fever, sore throat, and dysphagia. Imaging revealed peritonsillar multiloculated fluid collections and necrotizing pneumonia with multiple pulmonary abscesses. The patient’s hospital course was complicated by the development of necrotizing fasciitis in his right lower leg, which required incision and drainage with surgical washout. In addition to systemic intravenous antibiotics and anticoagulation, he underwent multiple thoracentesis procedures. The patient was ultimately transferred to a tertiary care center due to persistent fevers and lung abscesses. This case highlights the challenges of initial diagnosis, as well as the treatment choices faced by the attending physicians.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aynur Turan ◽  
Harun Cam ◽  
Yeliz Dadali ◽  
Serdar Korkmaz ◽  
Ali Özdek ◽  
...  

Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare clinical condition that generally develops secondary to oropharyngeal infection caused byFusobacterium necrophorum, which is an anaerobic bacteria. A 62-year-old patient with diabetes mellitus presented with internal jugular vein and sigmoid sinus-transverse sinus thrombophlebitis, accompanying otitis media and mastoiditis that developed after an upper airway infection. Interestingly, there were air bubbles in both the internal jugular vein and transverse sinus. Vancomycin and meropenem were started and a right radical mastoidectomy was performed. The patient’s clinical picture completely resolved in 14 days. High mortality and morbidity may be prevented with a prompt diagnosis of Lemierre’s syndrome.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Sourya Acharya ◽  
Roopesh Yarappa ◽  
Sakshi Gagneja ◽  
Shreya Gattani

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125
Author(s):  
Andri Nugraha ◽  
Ernawati Ernawati ◽  
Tuti Anggriani Utama ◽  
Santi Rinjani

COVID-19 is highly contagious, causing pneumonia, respiratory failure, death, and becoming a pandemic. Patients with severe infections must be treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a ventilator. Ventilator facilities in the ICU are limited; it must take precautions by knowing the characteristics of patients at high risk of severe disease in COVID-19, one of which was smoking or comorbidity. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of comorbidity and smoking in COVID-19. This study used systematic review by searching for articles from the ScienceDirect and Medline databases with journals published on January 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020. The results of the study showed that there were 12 relevant articles full text in English and were analysed. The conclusion was that patients with COVID-19 who were smoking or had comorbidities were more susceptible to COVID-19 infection, more severe illness, and causing death.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Coultas ◽  
Neena Bodasing ◽  
Paul Horrocks ◽  
Anthony Cadwgan

Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare complication following an acute oropharyngeal infection. The aetiological agent is typically anaerobic bacteria of the genusFusobacterium. The syndrome is characterised by a primary oropharyngeal infection followed by metastatic spread and suppurative thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. If left untreated, Lemierre’s syndrome carries a mortality rate of over 90%. Whilst relatively common in the preantibiotic era, the number of cases of Lemierre’s syndrome subsequently declined with the introduction of antibiotics. With the increase of antibiotic resistance and a greater reluctance to prescribe antibiotics for minor conditions such as tonsillitis, there are now concerns developing about the reemergence of the condition. This increasing prevalence in the face of an unfamiliarity of clinicians with the classical features of this “forgotten disease” may result in the misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosis of this potentially fatal illness. This case report illustrates the delay in diagnosis of probable Lemierre’s syndrome in a 17-year-old female, its diagnosis, and successful treatment which included the use of anticoagulation therapy. Whilst there was a positive outcome, the case highlights the need for a suspicion of this rare condition when presented with distinctive signs and symptoms.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Lukas Birkner

Lemierre’s syndrome is a rare disorder that is characterized by anaerobic organisms inducing a thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (IJV) following a course of oropharyngeal infection. It often occurs in young and healthy patients. Clinicians continuously misinterpret early symptoms until infection disseminates systematically and life-threatening sepsis transpires. We report the case of a 58-year-old female developing Lemierre’s syndrome accompanied by invasive ventilation support and a profound deafness requiring the implementation of a cochlear implant. This is one of two reported cases of Lemierre’s syndrome associated with mechanical ventilation support and the only case associated with a cochlear implant.


1994 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunket Ahkee ◽  
Latha Srinath ◽  
Martin J. Raff ◽  
Anna Huang ◽  
Julio A. Ramirez

Lemierre's syndrome is an uncommon clinical entity. It consists of oropharyngeal infection and anaerobic bacteremia, followed by jugular vein septic thrombophlebitis with embolization to lungs and other areas. Although it occurs less frequently than in the preantibiotic era, it is important that the typical presentation be recognized because of its lethal potential. A case of Lemierre's syndrome in Louisville, Kentucky, is described.


1995 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 275-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meera Gupta ◽  
Frank V. Castello ◽  
Hemant H. Kesarwala

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