[Toxic-shock-like-syndrome caused by beta-hemolysing group G streptococci in a multimorbid patient with erysipelas].

METHODS

A 41-year-old, obese man with a history of incomplete paraplegia of both legs and chronic venous insufficiency with stasis dermatitis presented with acute respiratory and hyperdynamic hemodynamic failure. He was transferred from another hospital to the department of intensive care medicine for further diagnosis and treatment. A livid coloured, necrotizing-hemorrhagic swelling of the right lower leg was noted.

METHODS

Laboratory tests revealed an inflammation probably due to bacterial infection, anemia, acute renal failure, acute hepatic dysfunction, coagulopathy and lactic acidosis, indicating multi-organ failure and septic shock. No focus of sepsis was found at abdominal sonography and exploratory laparotomy. Chest X-Ray and computed tomography revealed bilateral pneumonia. Doppler ultrasonography of both legs showed acute isolated thrombosis of the right posterior tibial vein.

METHODS

In addition to a chronic venous ulcer-necrotizing hemorrhagic erysipelas had developed in the right lower leg. A swab taken at surgery and blood cultures grew Streptococcus dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis (group G streptococci, GGS). Despite intensive care treatment and high dosage penicillin G therapy the patient died two days after admission from septic shock and multi-organ failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Group G streptococci cause a variety of common and severe infections. Erysipelas is infrequently associated with GGS but, much more often, with group A streptococci (GAS). This unusual and fulminant case emphasizes the importance of considering Streptococcus dysgalactiae as a causative agent in septicemia with multiple predisposing factors and soft-tissue infections.