Clinical presentations and epidemiology of beta-haemolytic streptococcal bacteraemia: a population-based study

: Rantala S, Vuopio-Varkila J, Vuento R, Huhtala H, Syrjänen J

: 2009

: Clinical Microbiology and Infection

: Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

: Clin Microbiol Infect

: 15

: 3

: 286

: 8

: 3

: 1198-743X

: 1469-0691

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-0691.2008.02672.x

In this population-based study, all 314 episodes of beta-haemolytic streptococcal bacteraemia in adult patients in the Pirkanmaa area, Finland, during the 10-year period 1995-2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Altogether, 92 cases of bacteraemia caused by Lancefield group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GAS), 76 caused by group B beta-haemolytic streptococci (GBS), 18 caused by group C beta-haemolytic streptococci (GCS) and 128 caused by group G beta-haemolytic streptococci (GGS) were identified. The most important finding was that the incidence of GGS increased during the study period. Disruption of the cutaneous barrier was a very common predisposing factor in GAS and GGS bacteraemias. Skin infections were the presenting clinical manifestations in two-thirds of GAS and GGS bacteraemias.