Prevalence of Fusobacterium necrophorum in Children Presenting with Pharyngitis

Abstract

<i>Fusobacterium necrophorum</i>, an obligate anaerobic bacterium, was recently reported to be an important cause of bacterial pharyngitis with a prevalence as high as that of group A <i>Streptococcus</i> (GAS) in adolescents and young adults. Importantly, <i>F. necrophorum</i> is the primary causative agent of the life-threatening Lemierre's syndrome, and screening of pharyngeal samples may be warranted for its early detection and prevention. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalences of <i>F. necrophorum</i> and groups A and C/G streptococci as agents of bacterial pharyngitis in children. Pharyngeal samples (<i>n</i> = 300) were collected from pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of pharyngitis. Overall, 10 (3.3%), 79 (26.3%), and 4 (1.3%) patients were PCR positive for <i>F. necrophorum</i>, GAS, and group C/G streptococci, respectively. The prevalence of <i>F. necrophorum</i> was significantly higher in patients between the ages of 14 and 20 years at 13.5% than in patients aged 14 years and younger (1.9%, <i>P</i> < 0.001). All positive patients presented with signs and symptoms similar to GAS pharyngitis. Our data demonstrated a potential role for <i>F. necrophorum</i> as a pathogen of pharyngitis among young adults, but suggests that the prevalence of <i>F. necrophorum</i> is low in preadolescent patients.