A 19-year-old develops rigors, neck pain, and multiple pulmonary infiltrates two weeks after an episode of severe bacterial pharyngotonsillitis. Which organism is the classic causative agent?
- A Streptococcus pyogenes
- B Staphylococcus aureus
- C Fusobacterium necrophorum ✓
- D Haemophilus influenzae
Correct answer: C. Fusobacterium necrophorum
Explanation
Lemierre syndrome is characterized by internal jugular vein septic thrombophlebitis and metastatic lung infections following an oropharyngeal infection. Fusobacterium necrophorum is the classic causative organism. It is an anaerobic gram-negative rod. Streptococcus pyogenes causes pharyngitis but rarely leads to septic thrombophlebitis. Staphylococcus aureus causes community-acquired pneumonia but is not the classic cause of this syndrome.
Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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