Bacteremia caused by a Fusobacterium species is rare. It ranges from a relatively benign condition to one that can be fatal.
Patient selection: positive blood culture for Fusobacterium species
Species: F. necrophorum, F. nucleatum, others
Risk factors associated with Fusobacterium bacteremia:
(1) malignancy
(2) dialysis
(3) dementia
(4) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
(5) diabetes mellitus
(6) heart disease
(7) alcoholism
F. necrophorum bacteremia in a young adult without comorbid conditions has a low mortality.
F. nucleatum bacteremia in an older adult with comorbid conditions may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases
