| Lemierre's Syndrome also known as necrobacillosis | | | | Contrast computed tomography of the neck |
| or post-anginal sepsis. It is caused by the | | | | provides the definitive diagnosis, showing |
| bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum, and | | | | distended veins with enhancing walls, intraluminal |
| occasionally by other members of the genus | | | | filling defects, and swelling of contiguous soft |
| fusobacterium. Fusobacterium necrophorum is the | | | | tissues. A treatment involves intravenous antibiotic |
| most common pathogen isolated from the | | | | therapy and drainage of septic foci. |
| patients. The interval between the oropharyngeal | | | | Fusobacterium necrophorum is generally highly |
| infection and the onset of the septicaemia is | | | | susceptible to Beta-lactam antibiotics, |
| usually short. Deep in the abscess, anaerobic | | | | metronidazole, clindamycin and third generation |
| bacteria like Fusobacterium necrophorum can | | | | cephalosporins while the other fusobacteria have |
| flourish. Fusobacterium necrophorum organism is | | | | varying degrees of resistance to beta-lactams |
| found in the intestines of many species as part of | | | | and clindamycin. The role of anticoagulation is |
| the normal flora. It survives well in wet soil that | | | | controversial. Ligation or excision of the internal |
| has high manure content. | | | | jugular vein may be needed in some cases. |
| Other bacteria are frequently linked with the | | | | Surgical drainage of purulent collections may, |
| disease, swollen cervical lymph nodes and | | | | however, be required. Amputation of a toe may |
| septicemia (infection of the blood), | | | | be required in severe cases of foot rot where |
| arcanobacterium pyogenes being the most | | | | there is bone and joint involvement. Prolonged |
| common. Lemierre's Syndrome is an extremely | | | | therapy is recommended because of the |
| rare disease which has tentatively been linked as | | | | endovascular nature of the infection. Ligation or |
| a having tongue piercing as a potential trigger. | | | | excision of the internal jugular vein is frequently |
| Lemierre's syndrome generally occurs in healthy | | | | required. As with most diseases, prevention is |
| adolescents and young adults. The infection usually | | | | much more rewarding than treatment. Good |
| begins with a sore throat, followed by fever, | | | | general hygiene should be practiced with attention |
| septicemia, thrombosis, and metastatic abscesses. | | | | paid to control of excessive fecal contamination |
| Other symptoms of Lemierre's syndrome neck | | | | of paddocks, holding and handling facilities, and |
| tenderness or swelling develops. | | | | feeding equipment. |