Lemierre's Syndrome - Cause

Cause

Fusobacterium necrophorum is the causative agent in most people with Lemierre's syndrome. However only 1 in 400 cases of Fusobacterium necrophorum results in Lemierre's syndrome. and 81% of cases of Lemierres's syndrome have been infected with Fusobacterium necrophorum, while in 11% of people it was caused by other Fusobacterium species. MRSA might also be an issue in Lemierre infections. Rarely Lemierre's syndrome is caused by other (usually Gram-negative) bacteria, which include Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Peptostreptococcus spp., Streptococcus microaerophile, Staphylococcus aureus, and Eikenella corrodens.