[Sore throat with septic complications]

A young man presented with exertional dyspnea and thoracic pain following pharyngitis. The findings included pulmonary melting, left-sided pleural empyema and spondylitis. Cultures for detection of the pathogen were negative and sequencing for bacterial DNA was additionally carried out resulting in detection of Fusobacterium necrophorum that is typical for oropharyngeal infections. Furthermore, environmental diagnostics revealed two infected molars as a possible source of the infection and a jugular vein thrombosis. The results were compatible with Lemierre syndrome. This case highlights the potential of molecular diagnostics of pathogens.