Necrobacillosis: an unusual cause of purulent otitis media and sepsis.

Necrobacillosis is a rare systemic illness caused by the anaerobic gram-negative bacterium, Fusobacterium necrophorum. We describe a case of necrobacillosis in a previously healthy child who developed purulent otitis media with sepsis caused by F. necrophorum. This case demonstrates that not all cases of purulent ear drainage are caused by the usual otopathic organisms and emphasizes the importance of culturing ear discharge in a child with an unusual presentation.