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Group G streptococcal infection in an elderly patient
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Withington Hospital, Manchester, England.
Southern Medical Journal
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Group B Streptococcus (GGS) infections are rare but serious, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. This case highlights a fatal GGS meningitis and endocarditis in an elderly patient, emphasizing the need for awareness.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Group B Streptococcus (GGS) infections are increasingly recognized but remain uncommon.
- GGS typically causes severe disease in vulnerable populations, including the immunocompromised, those with underlying conditions like cancer, intravenous drug users, and the very young or elderly.
Observation:
- A previously healthy 84-year-old patient presented with obtundation, irritability, and cellulitis.
- This patient developed fatal meningitis and endocarditis.
Findings:
- The case presented with multiple characteristics previously reported separately in severe GGS infections.
- This fatal outcome underscores the potential severity of GGS in the elderly, even without significant prior comorbidities.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for severe GGS infections in seemingly healthy elderly individuals.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering GGS in the differential diagnosis of serious infections in the elderly.
- Suggests that GGS may be an underrecognized cause of severe morbidity and mortality in this demographic.