Neck: Lemierre syndrome: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Neck: Lemierre syndrome

Sample item

After a throat infection, a young adult has high fever, neck pain along the sternocleidomastoid and multiple septic pulmonary emboli. Which organism is typically involved?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Fusobacterium necrophorum

Lemierre syndrome is septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein following oropharyngeal infection, caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. Treatment is prolonged IV antibiotics such as beta-lactam with metronidazole.

Option by option

  • A. Fusobacterium necrophorum (correct)

    Correct. Fusobacterium necrophorum is the typical organism.

  • B. Haemophilus influenzae

    H. influenzae causes epiglottitis and sinusitis.

  • C. Corynebacterium diphtheriae

    C. diphtheriae causes diphtheria.

  • D. Streptococcus pneumoniae

    Pneumococcus is not typical.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Fusobacterium necrophorum. Lemierre syndrome is septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein following oropharyngeal infection, caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum.

Why is "Haemophilus influenzae" not the answer?

H. influenzae causes epiglottitis and sinusitis.

Why is "Corynebacterium diphtheriae" not the answer?

C. diphtheriae causes diphtheria.

Why is "Streptococcus pneumoniae" not the answer?

Pneumococcus is not typical.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neck: Lemierre syndrome in ENT. Treatment is prolonged IV antibiotics such as beta-lactam with metronidazole.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Neck: Lemierre syndrome?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.