Numerous eruptive lesions of panniculitis associated with group A streptococcus bacteremia in an immunocompetent child.
A previously healthy 13-month-old boy developed group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus bacteremia coinciding with numerous eruptive subcutaneous lesions primarily on his extremities. Skin biopsy revealed infectious panniculitis; gram-positive cocci were present within both fat lobules and septa. Molecular genetic analysis of an isolate from the patient's blood revealed an emm type 4 organism displaying the emm chromosomal pattern E that is characteristic of opacity factor-producing strains; the organism also harbored the gene encoding for streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin C (speC). To our knowledge, this clinical presentation has not yet been described in the spectrum of infections directly caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci.
Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
W
W
Pao
K O
KO
Duncan
J L
JL
Bolognia
C B
CB
Carroll
P J
PJ
Hotez
D E
DE
Bessen
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015434:Panniculitis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*