|
|
|
|
|
| |
Current Issue

Past Issues

Guidelines

Epidemic Hot Spot

Instructions to Authors

Search



Characteristics of group A streptococcal bacteremia with comparison between children and adults

Yi-Chuan Huang, Yhu-Chering Huang, Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Luan-Yin Chang, Hsieh-Shong Leu, Tzou-Yien Lin
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC

This retrospective study aimed to compare the characteristics of group A streptococcal bacteremia in children and adults. A total of 76 (12 children and 64 adults) patients with group A streptococcal bacteremia treated from October 1995 through September 2000 at the Linko Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were included. The mean age was 47.6 years (range, 12 days-90 years). Forty-four (57.9%) patients had predisposing medical conditions. Malignant cancer (23.7%) and diabetes (22.4%) were the 2 most common conditions, which occurred only in adults. Two (16.7%) children had chickenpox associated with secondary group A streptococcal bacteremia. Skin and soft tissue infection (60.5%) was the most common clinical manifestation. The mortality rate related to group A streptococcal bacteremia was 25%. Twelve patients met the criteria of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and 6 (50%) were children (p<0.05). Despite immediate and aggressive treatment, mortality due to streptococcal toxic shock syndrome was 66.7%. The incidence of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome was much higher in children (50%) than in adults (9.4%). Early diagnosis of invasive group A streptococcal infections and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome requires awareness of the presentations and a high level of suspicion. For fulminant group A streptococcal infection, a combination of a beta-lactam antibiotic plus clindamycin and/or adjuvant therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin is recommended.

J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2001;34:195-200.

[Full Article in PDF]


This website is designed and maintained by Scientific Communications International Limited on behalf of the Chinese Society of Microbiology, the Chinese Society of Immunology, the Infectious Diseases Society of Taiwan, and the
Taiwan Society of Parasitology