Necrobacillosis--a resurgence?

Necrobacillosis is a rare life threatening illness caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. It usually affects previously healthy adolescents and presents as symptomatic pharyngeal infection followed by bacteraemia and metastatic abscesses. A high degree of clinical suspicion is needed because there is often a delay between the presentation of sore throat and the development of systemic illness. The clinical and radiological features of four cases of necrobacillosis are reported and a review of the spectrum of manifestations of metastatic infection presented.