Numerous eruptive lesions of panniculitis associated with group A streptococcus bacteremia in an immunocompetent child

Clin Infect Dis. 1998 Sep;27(3):430-3. doi: 10.1086/514685.

Abstract

A previously healthy 13-month-old boy developed group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus bacteremia coinciding with numerous eruptive subcutaneous lesions primarily on his extremities. Skin biopsy revealed infectious panniculitis; gram-positive cocci were present within both fat lobules and septa. Molecular genetic analysis of an isolate from the patient's blood revealed an emm type 4 organism displaying the emm chromosomal pattern E that is characteristic of opacity factor-producing strains; the organism also harbored the gene encoding for streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin C (speC). To our knowledge, this clinical presentation has not yet been described in the spectrum of infections directly caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteremia / immunology
  • Bacteremia / microbiology*
  • Bacteremia / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Panniculitis / blood
  • Panniculitis / immunology
  • Panniculitis / microbiology*
  • Panniculitis / pathology
  • Skin Diseases / pathology
  • Streptococcal Infections / blood
  • Streptococcal Infections / immunology
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / pathology
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / isolation & purification*