title: Clinical presentations and epidemiology of beta-haemolytic streptococcal bacteraemia: a population-based study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. sari.rantala@pshp.fi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rantala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vuopio-Varkila
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vuento
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Syrjänen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000150:complications; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult