It could only happen to a doctor - Haemophilus aphrophilus septicaemia complicated by a prevertebral infection after dental work

A 53 year old man presented with severe neck pain and a flu-like illness; h e had recently returned from Sri Lanka and had had dental treatment six day s before illness onset. Blood culture showed infection by Haemophilus aphro philus. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed and exploratory surgery un dertaken. The prevertebral cervical fascia was inflamed but no abscess iden tified. He was treated with antibiotics and made an uneventful recovery.