BACKGROUND: Fusobacterium necrophorum (F. necrophorum)-induced necrotizing pneumonia is a rare but severe pulmonary infection. Insufficient microbiological detection methods can lead to diagnostic difficulties. METHODS: We report a case of F. necrophorum lung abscess diagnosed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). RESULTS: BALF-NGS detected F. necrophorum, guiding subsequent targeted antibiotic therapy. With active drainage and metronidazole treatment, the patient's condition was effectively treated. CONCLUSION: BALF-NGS is a valuable tool for the rapid diagnosis of infections caused by difficult-to-culture bacteria. It played a decisive role in the early identification of F. necrophorum, enabling timely and targeted antibiotic intervention. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for the management of F. necrophorum pneumonia.
Fusobacterium Infections , Lung Abscess , Humans , Fusobacterium , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid , Lung Abscess/diagnosis , Lung Abscess/drug therapy , Fusobacterium Infections/diagnosis , Fusobacterium Infections/drug therapy , Fusobacterium Infections/microbiology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Fusobacterium necrophorum , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
