title: Group G Streptococcus bacteremia in recurrent cellulitis.
abstract: In recent years, group G Streptococcus has been reported with increasing frequency as the cause of a variety of human infections. Underlying host factors such as immunosuppression, malignancy, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis may be predisposing conditions leading to infection. Toxic involvement and post-streptococcal sequalae, once believed to be exclusive to infections caused by group A Streptococcus, are now known to occur following acute group G Streptococcus and group C Streptococcus infections. We report on a case of group G Streptococcus bacteremia and recurrent cellulitis with toxic involvement. Patient blood cultures were always negative for β-hemolytic Streptococci in all the recurrences, except during the last one. Antibiotic therapy based on antibiogram quickly resolved the infection. A regimen of intramuscular injection of 1.2 million units of benzathine penicillin every 15 days for one year prevented recurrences of cellulitis.
authors.affiliation: Nicola di Meo, MD, Dermatology Department, University of Trieste , Ospedale Maggiore di Trieste, IV piano Palazzina Infettiv,i Piazza Ospedale 1, 34151 Trieste, Italy; nickdimeo@libero.it.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: di Meo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stinco
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gubertini
authors.forename: Maria Martina
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Patriarca
authors.forename: Giusto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trevisan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine