Overwhelming Streptococcus pyogenes sepsis in an elderly patient with septic arthritis. Issue 3 (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chadha, Aarti; Jamal, Wafaa; Aziz, Abdul R.A.; Rotimi, Vincent O.
• Is Part Of: Journal of infection and public health. Volume 11:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 434
• Page End: 435
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: S. pyogenes -- Sepsis -- Arthritis -- Elderly patient; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.08.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1876-0341

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The signs of Streptococcus pyogenes, group A streptococci (GAS) bacteremia are non-specific and patients can have wide presentations ranging from flu-like symptoms to life-threatening toxic-shock syndrome in just a few hours. Case presentation: We report a case of fulminant S. pyogenes sepsis in an elderly woman with septic arthritis and remarkable past medical history/risk factors. She was febrile, hypotensive and had a swollen and tender right knee. Multiple blood cultures and the synovial fluid culture yielded S. pyogenes . Despite adequate antimicrobial therapy with penicillin and clindamycin the patient succumbed to her infection within 4 days of presentation in our hospital. Conclusion: GAS remains penicillin sensitive most of the time but prompt appropriate antibiotic therapy is very crucial to survival.