Importance of group G streptococci in human pyogenic infections

Streptococci that belong to groups other than A are involved in a variety of human infections. In the present study, we report the pyogenic infections associated with group G streptococci (GGS), observed at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. Of 2314 beta-haemolytic streptococci isolated from 31,857 pus specimens processed during the period 1975-1986, GGS accounted for 338 (14.6%). Twelve of these were grown in pure culture. The clinical conditions associated with them included pyogenic arthritis, osteomyelitis, paravertebral sinus and an abdominal burst. Clinical analysis of 99 of 125 patients with GGS, grown in mixture with another organism or skin contaminants, showed that 59% of them were from surgical wound infections, diabetic lesions or wound infections in leprosy patients. Surgical management and antibiotic treatment resulted in full recovery of these clinical conditions.