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Fusobacteriosis presenting as community acquired pneumonia

Sanjay Bhattacharya1, Shaun A Livsey, Martin Wiselka

  • 1Department of Clinical Microbiology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Sandringham Building, Level 5, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK.

The Journal of Infection
|March 23, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Fusobacterium infections, a rare cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), are increasing. Antibiotic resistance in Fusobacterium species may lead to treatment failure, necessitating high clinical suspicion for accurate diagnosis and management.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Fusobacterium species are anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli colonizing mucosal surfaces in humans and animals.
  • These bacteria are associated with various infections, including Lemierre's disease, abdominal infections, and deep-seated abscesses.

Observation:

  • An apparent increase in the incidence of fusobacterium infections is noted.
  • Three cases of fusobacteriosis presenting with symptoms of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are detailed.

Findings:

  • Treatment regimens included benzyl penicillin/metronidazole, co-amoxiclav/metronidazole, and amoxicillin/clarithromycin.
  • Some Fusobacterium species exhibit resistance to penicillin and erythromycin, potentially compromising treatment efficacy for CAP cases.

Implications:

  • Fusobacterium infections represent a rare but emerging cause of CAP.
  • Effective management of fusobacteriosis presenting as CAP requires a high index of clinical suspicion due to potential antibiotic resistance and treatment failures.

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