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A case of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome due to Group G streptococci identified as Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy

Abstract

A 79-year-old man with a 3-month history of lymphedema of the lower limbs, and diabetes mellitus, was admitted to our hospital for suspected deep venous thrombosis. Several hours after admission, leg pain and purpura-like skin color appeared. On the 2nd hospital day, he was referred to our department for possible acute occlusive peripheral artery disease (PAD) and skin necrosis with blisters; however, computed tomography with contrast showed no occlusive lesions. He had already developed shock and necrotizing deep soft-tissue infections of the left lower leg. Laboratory findings revealed renal dysfunction and coagulation system collapse. Soon after PAD was ruled out, clinical findings suggested necrotizing deep soft-tissue infections, shock state, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and multiple organ failure. These symptoms led to a high suspicion of the well-recognized streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). With a high suspicion of STSS, we detected Group G β-hemolytic streptococci (GGS) from samples aspirated from the leg bullae, and the species was identified as Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) by 16S-ribosomal RNA sequencing. However, unfortunately, surgical debridement was impossible due to the broad area of skin change. Despite adequate antimicrobial therapy and intensive care, the patient died on the 3rd hospital day. The M-protein gene (emm) typing of the isolated SDSE was revealed to be stG6792. This type of SDSE is the most frequent cause of STSS due to GGS in Japan. We consider it to be crucial to rapidly distinguish STSS from acute occlusive PAD to achieve life-saving interventions in patients with severe soft-tissue infections.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors have financial relationships with any commercial entity with an interest in the subject of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Care Unit, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

    Takahito Nei, Koichi Akutsu, Ayaka Shima, Ippei Tsuboi, Hiroomi Suzuki, Takeshi Yamamoto & Keiji Tanaka

  2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

    Akihiro Shinoyama, Yoshiko Kojima, Yohei Washio, Sakina Okawa & Kazunari Sonobe

  3. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

    Yoshihiko Norose

  4. Department of Moleculo-genetic Sciences, Microbiology and Immunology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan

    Ryoichi Saito

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  1. Takahito Nei
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  2. Koichi Akutsu
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  3. Ayaka Shima
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  4. Ippei Tsuboi
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  7. Keiji Tanaka
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  11. Sakina Okawa
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  12. Kazunari Sonobe
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  13. Yoshihiko Norose
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  14. Ryoichi Saito
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Correspondence to Takahito Nei.

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Nei, T., Akutsu, K., Shima, A. et al. A case of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome due to Group G streptococci identified as Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis . J Infect Chemother 18, 919–924 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-012-0375-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-012-0375-x

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