Infections caused by Fusobacterium in children: a 14-year single-center experience

Abstract

Fusobacterium infections in children can cause a diverse spectrum of disease and is associated with high rates of abscess formation and intracranial complications. Although Fusobacterium nucleatum is abundant in the oral cavity, F. necrophorum is the main pathogen that causes severe infections in healthy children.

Fusobacterium necrophorum, a major provider of sinus thrombosis in acute mastoiditis: A retrospective multicentre paediatric study

“…Based on our experience and in accordance with the European Pediatric Neurology Society which published in 2012 specific guidelines on the management of paediatric cerebral venous thrombosis, a management scheme for Fusobacterium acute mastoiditis with thrombosis is proposed herein (Figure ). This proposed flowchart takes into account the fact that, unlike other classic otogenic bacteria, F necrophorum has a specific thrombotic activity by producing hemagglutinin and cytokines which lead to platelet aggregation and inflammation . This seems to be a main risk factor for cerebral sinovenous thrombosis …”

“…Only one literature review has been published on the management of paediatric OLST 21 but without specifically focusing on by producing hemagglutinin and cytokines which lead to platelet aggregation and inflammation. [23][24][25] This seems to be a main risk factor for cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. 26 A Fusobacterium mastoiditis should be treated for a mean of 1 month as follows: first, administration of two intravenous antibiotics (3GC plus metronidazole or 3GC plus clindamycin) and…”

Complicated Fusobacterium necrophorum mastoiditis – More than meets the eye

“…Fusobacterium species are Gram negative obligate anaerobes that can colonise the oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal and female genital tract. [1,2] Fusobacterium species are increasingly implicated in pharyngitis and otogenic infections in children. [1] Controversy exists as to whether there is a true increase in incidence related to a reduction in antibiotic use for respiratory tract infections, or that improved microbiological detection techniques are facilitating diagnosis.…”

“…[1,2] Fusobacterium species are increasingly implicated in pharyngitis and otogenic infections in children. [1] Controversy exists as to whether there is a true increase in incidence related to a reduction in antibiotic use for respiratory tract infections, or that improved microbiological detection techniques are facilitating diagnosis. [2][3][4] F. necrophorum possess virulence factors which promote local extension of infection and invasion into surrounding tissues and structures predisposing to intracranial complications and Lemierre's syndrome.…”

“…[2][3][4] F. necrophorum possess virulence factors which promote local extension of infection and invasion into surrounding tissues and structures predisposing to intracranial complications and Lemierre's syndrome. [2,3] Intracranial complications secondary to F. necrophorum head and neck infection occur more frequently in infants and young toddlers [1,6] and include meningitis, epidural or brain abscesses and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT). [1,3,5,6] In one single centre study, Shamriz et al reported intracranial complications in 8/22 (36.4%) patients, of whom 9/22 (40.9%) stemmed from an otogenic focus.…”