title: Comparison of clinical characteristics of group A streptococcal bacteremia in children and adults.
abstract: This report reviews 55 cases of bacteremia due to group A streptococci (GAS) in patients treated at the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases, in Zagreb, Croatia, during the period 1974-1994. Clinical findings for 27 children (age, < 18 years) were compared with those for 28 adults. A clear predominance of the respiratory tract as a primary focus of infection in younger patients was observed (P = .00006). Children were more frequently colonized by GAS in their throats than were adults (P = .04). Suppurative osteoarticular metastatic foci were more often found in children (P = .02). Acute underlying conditions were more common in children (P = .04), whereas chronic underlying conditions were more common in adults (P = .00005). The case fatality rate was 23% among children (6 of 27) and 50% among patients aged > 60 years (5 of 10). The course of bacteremia due to GAS was benign in eight children (29.6%) and 12 adults (42.8%). Our experience suggests that there are significant differences in the presentation of bacteremia due to GAS in children and adults.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Fran Mihaljević, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Begovac
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuzmanović
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bejuk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes