Peritonitis caused by group A streptococcus: A case report and literature review

Group A streptococcus (GAS) occasionally causes life-threatening infections. We encountered a case of GAS peritonitis associated with bilateral salpingitis.

A 56-year-old previously healthy woman suddenly experienced a fever of 40 °C and lower abdominal pain, and was taken to the emergency room. She exhibited a condition of severe sepsis with pan-peritonitis. Although an intra-peritoneal source of infection was not detected preoperatively, an exploratory laparotomy was performed at 3 h after her arrival. During the surgery, bilateral salpingitis was observed. Peritoneal drainage was performed. Meropenem was administered and she was extubated on the next day. GAS was detected in the vaginal fluid culture and ascitic fluid culture. Antibiotics therapy was completed on postoperative day 9 and the patient was discharged on day 10 without any complications.

A literature review was performed using the following algorithm: "(group A streptococcus OR streptococcus pyogenes) AND (peritonitis)". All case reports and case series published in English after 1990 were reviewed.

Fifty-six reports including 65 cases were eligible. There was a strong sex difference, with 80% of cases being female. All patients had symptoms of peritonitis, 80% had high-grade fever, and 74% had shock. The average time from onset to start of treatment was 3.8 days. Abdominal surgeries were required in 80% of cases. Multiple organ failure developed in 23%, and the mortality rate was 4.6%.

GAS peritonitis is a rare but life-threatening disease. Emergency surgical exploration and drainage are required to prevent progression to multiple organ failure.