Streptococcus pneumoniae: a rare skin pathogen?

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare cause of skin infections in adults. We present three cases and a review of the literature on this infection. Nine of the 42 (21%) cases occurred in previously healthy individuals without predisposing conditions. The majority of cases (88%) had bacteraemia. More than half the cases (22/42, 52%) required surgical intervention in addition to antimicrobial therapy. Copyright 2001 The British Infection Society.