title: Toxic shock-like syndrome caused by non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococci.
abstract: Two patients with rapidly developing shock, multisystem organ failure, and destructive soft-tissue infection caused by groups G and C streptococci are described. Both patients died rapidly despite aggressive treatment. The clinical characteristics cannot be distinguished from those of toxic shock-like syndrome, but Streptococcus pyogenes was not recovered. These strains did not produce any previously identified type of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins. These findings suggest that toxic shock-like syndrome can be caused not only by group A but also groups G and C streptococci. The causative strains of toxic shock-like syndrome may have something in common with unknown virulent factors for this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Critical Care Medical Center, Niigata City General Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okazaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000382:microbiology*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes