Plastic Bronchitis Associated with Group C Streptococcus: a Case Report

Plastic bronchitis (PB) is a rare airway-obstructive disease characterized by the formation of tenacious casts resembling bronchial airway architecture which can progress to extensive bronchial blockage, leading to pulmonary ventilation dysfunction and life-threatening respiratory failure.

The aim of this article was to desribe a very rare case of plastic bronchitis caused by group C streptococcus (GCS) as a pathogen causing PB.

A 5-year-old girl with no known underlying chronic diseases presented in October 2022 with a moderate-grade fever, dyspnea, and a productive cough of 3-months' duration On physical examination, she was slightly tachypneic with an oxygen saturation of 98%, but there were no other significant findings. Initial imaging studies, including a chest X-ray (CXR) and a two-dimensional echocardiogram, were normal. Most cases of PB result from procedures to repair congenital heart diseases, although other etiologies have been identified, including infections, inflammatory processes, and acute chest syndrome of sickle cell disease. The incidence of pulmonary infection associated with PB has increased over the years, primarily due to adenovirus, influenza viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influen zae. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report describing group C streptococ cus (GCS) as a pathogen causing PB.

To the authors' knowledge, this is the irst case report describing group C streptococcus (GCS) as a pathogen causing PB.