Streptococcal bloodstream infections resulting in right-sided endocarditis are uncommon. Streptococcus mitis can demonstrate slow-growing potential leading to delayed presentation or culture-negative endocarditis. Endocarditis accompanied by skin lesions represents a severe disease course. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy complicating the require well...

Rheuniatic fever is a recurrent disease which frequently can be prevented. Infection with group A streptococci precipitates both initial and recurrent attacks; therefore, prevention of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease depends upon the control of streptococcal infections. This may be accomplished, one by prevention of streptococcal infections in rheumatic subjects, and, two by early a...

This study evaluated a PCR assay for detection of the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (speB) gene from tissue biopsy specimens of patients with necrotizing fasciitis. speB was detected in specimens from all 10 patients with necrotizing fasciitis due to group A streptococcus. The assay was negative for all 11 patients without culture or serologic evidence of streptococcal infection. These res...

Rheumatic heart disease is an autoimmune sequela of group A streptococcal infection. Previous studies have established that streptococcal M protein is structurally and immunologically similar to cardiac myosin, a well-known mediator of inflammatory heart disease. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that streptococcal M protein could produce inflammatory valvular heart lesions similar ...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Streptococcal bacteraemia remains a major and challenging clinical problem throughout the world. The epidemiology of these infections appears to be changing. In the present study we analysed the data collected over a period of 20 yr (1978-1999) to throw light on this. METHODS Laboratory records of all patients yielding clinically significant, non-pneumococcal, nonenter...

INTRODUCTION We report a case of optic atrophy, necrotizing anterior scleritis and keratitis presenting in a patient with Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION A 43-year-old woman developed streptococcal toxic shock syndrome secondary to septic arthritis of her right ankle. Streptococcus pyogenes (b-haemolyticus Group A) was isolated from blood cultures and joint aspirate. She...