A Population - based Study of Beta - hemolytic Streptococcal Bacteremia

In this population-based study, all 314 episodes of b-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 b-haemolytic streptococci (GAS), 76 caused by group B b-haemolytic streptococci (GBS), 18 caused by group C b-haemolytic streptococci (GCS) and 128 caused by group G b-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