[Lemierre-like syndrome, an emerging diagnosis]

Lemierre's syndrome is characterized by septic thrombophlebitis of the jugular vein, bacteremia, and septic embolisms, resulting from an oropharyngeal infection frequently caused by Fusobacterium. In recent decades, there have been increasing reports of patients with a variant called Lemierre-like syndrome. In these cases, the pathogen involved is Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant strains. We report the case of a 64-year-old man with no comorbidities who presented with a chin abscess due to facial folliculitis. He progressed with bacteremia, external jugular vein thrombophlebitis with septic pulmonary embolisms, and mitral endocarditis. Cultures revealed methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus. The patient underwent drainage of the abscess, intravenous antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks, and anticoagulation, with favorable clinical outcome. Lemierre-like syndrome should be suspected in patients with sepsis presenting as a result of cervicofacial skin infections. This is an emerging and serious condition, whose early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment are essential for a favorable outcome.