Lemierre Syndrome Caused by Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Lemierre syndrome or postanginal sepsis is classically caused by anaerobe Fusobacterium necrophorum infection in previously healthy young individuals. It is characterized by a primary oropharyn- geal infection leading to internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis and sub- sequent metastatic infectious spread. In the preantibiotic era, Lemierre syndrome was associated with 90% mortality rate. The advent of A lactam antibiotics has decreased the incidence of the disease from 0.8 to 1.5 cases per 1 million persons per year, making certain authors label this as the rare and forgotten disease. We describe a case of Lemierre syndrome in a young female in whom community-acquired methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated as the causative agent. This to our knowledge has uncommonly been reported before. Our case highlights the need to recognize this disease entity and the expanding spectrum of methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections, which has become a major health concern in the United States. (Infect Dis Clin Pract 2009;17: 288Y290)