Lemierre's Syndrome with Paradoxical Emboli

Abstract

Lemierre's syndrome is a rare anaerobic oropharyngeal infection complicated by internal jugular thrombosis, the predominant etiology is Fusobacterium necrophorum. Septic emboli to lungs and distant organs have been described, however, to date there have been no published cases associated with embolization across a patent foramen ovale. We describe a case of Lemierre's syndrome with septic arterial emboli resulting in multiple cerebral abscesses and cutaneous manifestations. The outcome was favorable with appropriate antimicrobial therapy.