[Streptococcus A septicemia. An analysis of 18 cases in adults]

Within a 13-year period (1970-1982) there were seen 18 cases of A-streptococcal septicaemia (age range 18-77 years), 1.3% of all septicaemia cases in this time. The portal of entry was most often a banal skin infection. Typically the disease occurred suddenly and took a fulminating course with the clinical picture of severe septicaemia. In more than half the patients septic complications occurred. Despite correct antibiotic treatment pyrexia disappeared only slowly. Four patients died of septic shock. In every case with an acute septic course and a suspicious cutaneous focus, one should think of A-streptococcal septicaemia and, if necessary, give penicillin in high dosage even before the bacterial culture result is known.