Fusobacterium necrophorum is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that is the 
causative agent of the invasive disease Lemierre's syndrome. In addition, it is 
also associated with peritonsillar abscess formation and otitis media in small 
children. Recent research has shown that F. necrophorum may be involved in 
pharyngotonsillitis especially in adolescent and young adults and that it may be 
the second most common bacterial cause of pharyngotonsillitis after 
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococci). Peritonsillar abscesses and 
Lemierre's syndrome due to F. necrophorum are also found in this age group, 
suggesting that they may be complications of F. necrophorum pharyngotonsillitis. 
In this review we present the present knowledge about the role of F. necrophorum 
in pharyngotonsillitis with special emphasis on the age distribution. We argue 
that F. necrophorum is an important pathogen involved in pharyngotonsillitis in 
the age group of 13-40 years of age and we urge clinical microbiology labs to 
set up the appropriate techniques to be able to detect F. necrophorum from 
throat swabs.