• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.289-292
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• 2015

Lemierre syndrome (LS) is a septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (IJV) following an oropharyngeal infection. LS is commonly caused by normal anaerobic flora and treated with appropriate antibiotics and anticoagulation therapy. Although the incidence of disease is very rare, 15% cases of LS are fatal even in the antibiotic era because of disseminated septic thromboemboli. We reported a case of extensive bilateral LS due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in a 63-year-old female with lung adenocarcinoma. Initial examination revealed a retropharyngeal abscess; hence, intravenous ceftriaxone and steroid were initiated empirically. However, pulmonary thromboembolism developed and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis was identified in the bacterial culture. Despite intensive antibiotic and anticoagulation therapies, extensive septic thrombophlebitis involving the bilateral IJV and superior vena cava developed. Adjunctive catheter-directed thrombolysis and superior vena cava stenting were performed and the patient received antibiotic therapy for an additional 4 weeks, resulting in complete recovery.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.88-92
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• 2012

Also called necrobacillosis or postanginal sepsis, Lemierre's syndrome (LS) is an uncommon but potentially lethal complication of odontogenic infection. A 27-year-old male diagnosed with Ludwig's angina was transferred from a local hospital due to continuous fever and chills after incision and drainage under general anesthesia. The swelling of both submental and submandibular area subsided, but the fever and chills persisted. While generalized malaise improved, sepsis developed together with the deterioration of liver function. The chest computed tomography scan revealed multiple cavitations throughout both lungs, which were diagnosed as septic pulmonary embolism. After consulting the department of infectious diseases, the patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics focusing on vancomycin and additional antibiotics. After 3 weeks of treatment, the patient recovered completely. Despite its decreased mortality, dentists are not familiar with LS, and it is difficult to diagnose correctly. In this paper, we report a case and present a review of literature.