# Rapid diagnosis of Lemierre’s syndrome by metagenomic next-generation sequencing: a case report

## TL;DR

A rare and deadly throat infection called Lemierre’s syndrome was quickly diagnosed using a new sequencing technique.

## Contribution

This case report demonstrates the effectiveness of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in rapidly diagnosing Lemierre’s syndrome.

## Key findings

- Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) enabled rapid and accurate diagnosis of Lemierre’s syndrome.
- mNGS provided precise etiological information for timely treatment of the infection.
- Conventional bacterial culture methods were found to be less efficient and sensitive in this case.

## Abstract

Lemierre’s syndrome, also known as postopharyngeal septicaemia or necrobacillosis, is a rare, fatal opportunistic infection, often caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum invading the throat. Bacterial culture is a conventional method to establish a diagnosis, but is time-consuming and insensitive in some cases. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), as an emerging technique, has become an important supplementary detection method for infectious diseases. It greatly favors the rapid, precise diagnosis and treatment of Lemierre’s syndrome through accurately obtaining etiological information. We reported a case of Lemierre’s syndrome that was rapidly and accurately diagnosed by mNGS.