PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with Streptococcus group G bacteremia from 1990 to 1999 at a community teaching hospital in Israel. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We calculated the annual rate of bacteremia with Streptococcus group G, expressed as a percentage of positive blood cultures (after excluding contaminants) and per 1000 admissions. Medical records of patients with Streptococcus group G were reviewed. RESULTS: During the 10-year study period, there was a total of 7415 positive blood cultures, 327 (4.4%) of which were beta-hemolytic Streptococcus species, of which 49 (15%) were group G. The rate of Streptococcus group G bacteremia per 1000 admissions increased from zero (0/18,783) in 1990 to 0.41 (13/31,440) in 1999 (P = 0.001), surpassing Streptococcus group A in frequency. Of the 47 patients with Streptococcus group G, 40 medical records were available for review: 25 patients (63%) were older than 75 years and 32 (80%) were men. The probable source of Streptococcus group G bacteremia was a skin or soft tissue infection in 37 patients (93%). Six of the 40 patients died. CONCLUSION: Community-acquired group G streptococcal bacteremia occurred with increasing frequency from 1990 to 1999 at our hospital. Most patients were elderly men, and the portal of entry was usually the skin or soft tissue. Our findings suggest a change in the epidemiology of bacteremia due to beta-hemolytic streptococci.
PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with Streptococcus group Gbacteremia from 1990 to 1999 at a community teaching hospital in Israel. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We calculated the annual rate of bacteremia with Streptococcus group G, expressed as a percentage of positive blood cultures (after excluding contaminants) and per 1000 admissions. Medical records of patients with Streptococcus group G were reviewed. RESULTS: During the 10-year study period, there was a total of 7415 positive blood cultures, 327 (4.4%) of which were beta-hemolytic Streptococcus species, of which 49 (15%) were group G. The rate of Streptococcus group Gbacteremia per 1000 admissions increased from zero (0/18,783) in 1990 to 0.41 (13/31,440) in 1999 (P = 0.001), surpassing Streptococcus group A in frequency. Of the 47 patients with Streptococcus group G, 40 medical records were available for review: 25 patients (63%) were older than 75 years and 32 (80%) were men. The probable source of Streptococcus group Gbacteremia was a skin or soft tissue infection in 37 patients (93%). Six of the 40 patients died. CONCLUSION: Community-acquired group G streptococcal bacteremia occurred with increasing frequency from 1990 to 1999 at our hospital. Most patients were elderly men, and the portal of entry was usually the skin or soft tissue. Our findings suggest a change in the epidemiology of bacteremia due to beta-hemolytic streptococci.
Authors: Mark R Davies; David J McMillan; Gary H Van Domselaar; Malcolm K Jones; Kadaba S Sriprakash Journal: J Bacteriol Date: 2007-01-26 Impact factor: 3.490
Authors: J Carratalà; B Rosón; N Fernández-Sabé; E Shaw; O del Rio; A Rivera; F Gudiol Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2003-03-05 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: Yusra Ahmad; Robert E Gertz; Zhongya Li; Varja Sakota; Laura N Broyles; Chris Van Beneden; Richard Facklam; P Lynn Shewmaker; Arthur Reingold; Monica M Farley; Bernard W Beall Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2009-04-22 Impact factor: 5.948