Invasive Streptococcus anginosus group infection-does the species predict the outcome?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is an association between the species of Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) bacteria and the clinical outcome.


METHODS
Isolates from invasive infections caused by SAG bacteria at our institution between January 2004 and February 2009 were identified phenotypically to the taxonomic level of species. Clinical data from the medical records of the patients from whom these isolates were recovered were obtained retrospectively and analyzed.


RESULTS
Patients with invasive Streptococcus intermedius infections had a significantly longer hospital stay than patients infected with S. anginosus (p = 0.024) and a significantly higher 30-day all-cause mortality than patients infected with Streptococcus constellatus (p = 0.049).


CONCLUSIONS
Identification of SAG bacteria to the taxonomic level of species may be of prognostic importance.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia; Monash Medical Centre 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3168. Electronic address: Ralph.Junckerstorff@southernhealth.org.au.
Ralph K
RK
Junckerstorff
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia; Australian Collaborating Centre for Enterococcus and Staphylococcus Species Typing and Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University.
J Owen
JO
Robinson
Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia; Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Perth, Western Australia.
Ronan J
RJ
Murray
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013045:Species Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D034366:Streptococcus anginosus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D034367:Streptococcus intermedius / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*
Length of stay; Mortality; Streptococcus anginosus; Streptococcus constellatus; Streptococcus intermedius