Beta-hemolytic streptococcal bacteremia: a review of 241 cases.

Bacteremia with beta-hemolytic Streptococci groups A, B, C and G has a mortality rate of approximately 20%. In this study we analyzed the association of various patient risk factors with mortality. Records from 241 patients with beta-hemolytic streptococcal bacteremia were reviewed with particular attention to which predisposing factors were predictors of death. A logistic regression model found age, burns, immunosuppressive treatment and iatrogenic procedures prior to the infection to be significant predictors of death, with odds ratios of 1.7 (per decade), 19.7, 3.6 and 6.8, respectively. In bacteremic patients with erysipelas, mortality increased from 8% to 50% when bullae were observed. No HIV-positive patients or IVDUs died as a result of their bacteremic episode. Surprisingly, we found 49% resistance to tetracycline.