Group A streptococcus bacteraemia: comparison of adults and children in a single medical centre

Authors: Megged, O.¹; Yinnon, A. M.²; Raveh, D.²; Rudensky, B.³; Schlesinger, Y.

Source: Clinical Microbiology & Infection, Volume 12, Number 2, February 2006 , pp. 156-162(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Group A streptococcus (GAS) bacteraemia is often associated with soft-tissue infection, with significant morbidity and mortality. Little is known concerning the differences between adults and children with GAS bacteraemia. Records for 98 of 116 cases of GAS bacteraemia (60 adults and 38 children, aged 7 days to 96 years) occurring during a 10-year period (1993–2002) were located and reviewed. GAS bacteraemia comprised 0.6% of all bacteraemias in adults, compared to 3.3% in children (p < 0.001). The rate of adult GAS bacteraemia was two cases/1000 hospitalisations, compared to 13/1000 in children (p < 0.001). Seventy-six (78%) patients had concomitant tissue involvement, with skin or soft-tissue infection being the most common (62%). Fifty-three (88%) of 60 adults and five (13%) of 38 children had underlying conditions (p < 0.001). Twelve patients died, only one of whom was a child. Parameters associated with mortality were older age, lower temperature, hypotension, a need for surgical intervention, toxic shock syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, hypocalcaemia, renal failure and acidosis (p < 0.05).

Keywords: Adults; bacteraemia; children; group A streptococcus; soft-tissue infection; Streptococcus pyogenes

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-0691.2005.01311.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pediatrics 2: Infectious Diseases Unit 3: Microbiology Laboratory, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Shevah, Israel

Publication date: 2006-02-01

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