Fatal Pediatric Streptococcal Infection: A Clinico-Pathological Study

Streptococcal Infection (SI) is an important cause of pediatric death in children, yet limited reports exist on autopsy findings in fatal SI cases.

Case records (1997-2019) of SI with no pre-existing risk factors were reviewed and selected. Their clinical and pathological findings in the autopsy reports were analyzed.

In our cohort of 38 cases based on bacterial culture results, SI was most commonly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPn; 45%) and Streptococcus pyogenes (SPy; 37%). 92% of decedents had some prodromal symptoms prior to terminal presentation. The clinical course was often rapid, with 89% found unresponsive, suddenly collapsing, or dying within 24 hours of hospital admission. 64% of deaths were attributed to sepsis, more frequently diagnosed in the SPy group than in the SPn group (71% vs 48%). Pneumonia was found in both SPn and SPy groups, whereas meningitis was exclusively associated with SPn.

Our study shows fatal SI is most commonly caused by either SPn or SPy, both of which are frequently associated with prodromal symptoms, rapid terminal clinical course, and evidence of sepsis. Postmortem diagnosis of sepsis is challenging and should be correlated with clinical features, bacterial culture results, and autopsy findings.