Microbiology
Anaerobic gram-negative rods, long, thin, pointy ends and often in pairs. F. necrophorum, F. nucleatum. Part of the human GI tract.
Epidemiologic Risks
Head and neck infection, often associated with poor dentition and/or aspiration.
Syndromes
It can be part of any mixed infection.
Lemmier's (aka post anginal sepsis) is septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein.
It can also cause septic thrombophlebitis of abdominal veins (PubMed). Like all bugs, it can be found in a variety of sites.
In adolescents, it can cause 10% of pharyngitis (PubMed) and is the most common organism in a peritonsillar abscess (PubMed).
Appendicitis may be due to invasive infection of Fusobacterium nucleatum and necrophorum (PubMed)(Pubmed).
And, like Bacteroides, may be associated with bowel cancer (PubMed)(PubMed)(Pubmed).
Treatment
Notes
Curious Cases
Relevant links to my Medscape blog
Last Update: 05/01/18.