PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTIONS”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Does group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection increase risk for behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms in children?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections increase the risk of developing symptoms characteristic of the diagnosis pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Children (N = 814) aged 4 to 11 years seen for sore throat or well-child care in a large pediatric practice in Rochester, NY, were enrolled from October 2001 to June 2002 (group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal [GAS] infected, n = 411; GAS uninfected, n = 403, of whom 207 had a sore throat of presumed viral etiology and 196 were well children). Symptomatic children with GAS infection (n = 399) were treated with antibiotics. At baseline and 2 and 12 weeks following baseline, all parents completed a 20-item questionnaire about the presence/absence of recent PANDAS symptoms in their children, and capable children answered 10 items about worries, obsessions, and compulsions. The relative risk of developing a "mild PANDAS variant" (> or = 2 new PANDAS symptoms) by illness type (GAS positive, presumed viral, or well child) and by parent and child report was determined and adjusted for potential covariates. RESULTS: By parent report, ill children more frequently manifested several PANDAS symptoms at baseline than well children. However, neither new symptoms nor the risk of developing a mild PANDAS variant developed during the subsequent 12 weeks more commonly in children with GAS infection than in those with presumed viral illness or in well children by parent or child report. CONCLUSIONS: Ill children with GAS infection, treated for their GAS infection, were not at increased risk for developing PANDAS symptoms or a mild PANDAS variant compared with children with presumed viral illness or well children. The role of antibiotics in the prevention or treatment of PANDAS as well as the investigation of PANDAS in the asymptomatic, infectious host deserves future research.

Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System↗
PubMed2002

[A case of adult polyarteritis nodosa associated with fulminant group A streptococcal infection].

We report a case of adult polyarteritis nodosa (PN) associated with group A streptococcal infection. A 37-year-old male had suffered from high fever, polyarthralgia, myalgia, and exanthema following pharyngalgia. He was admitted to the hospital because of cutaneous ulcers and necrosis making the general condition rapidly poor. A serological streptococcal test showed a marked increase in antistreptlysin-O (ASO) and a positive reaction to C polysaccharide, suggesting fulminant streptococcal infection. Various antibiotics including penicillin agents were administered. However improvement and exacerbation were repeatedly noted. In the hospital course peripheral neuritis and subcutaneous nodes in upper extremities developed. Biopsy specimen of subcutaneous nodes revealed necrotizing angiitis. Administration of a steroid achieved complete response, and the symptoms, inflammatory reaction, and ASO level improved. While the dose of the steroid was tapered gradually, recurrence was noted. However, increasing the dose finally resulted in relief. During the 2-year follow-up, there was a correlation between the ASO level and inflammatory reaction.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Evaluation of a commercially available latex agglutination test for rapid diagnosis of group B streptococcal infection.

We studied the clinical value of Wellcogen, a latex particle agglutination test designed to diagnose rapidly Group B streptococcal infections in 620 infants. The sensitivity and specificity were 18 of 20 (90%) and 18 of 22 (81%), respectively. False negatives were documented in 2 patients and false positive tests occurred in 4. Also 10 of 620 (1.6%) infants had detectable antigen in the absence of proved infection. In addition, in 4 other infants with Group B streptococcal bacteremia, antigenemia was absent in serum obtained on the day of hospitalization but antigen was detected in specimens obtained subsequently. We also assayed the sera of 102 randomly chosen hospitalized adults; 4 (4%) contained "antigen" but none had Group B streptococcal infection. None of 50 urines obtained from other randomly chosen hospitalized adults contained "antigen." In patients with Group B streptococcal meningitis cerebrospinal fluid and unconcentrated urine uniformly contained antigen but in bacteremia without focality, assay of blood and urine were both necessary to diagnose correctly all 7 patients with the Wellcogen test. We conclude that despite acceptable sensitivity and specificity, the interpretation of the Wellcogen test must be performed with caution and knowledge of its limitations.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Three- versus four-week administration of benzathine penicillin G: effects on incidence of streptococcal infections and recurrences of rheumatic fever.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of 3-week versus 4-week administration of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) on the incidence of Group A streptococcal infections and the recurrences of rheumatic fever (RF). STUDY DESIGN: We started, in 1979, randomly allocating all patients with RF to a 3-week or 4-week BPG prophylaxis program. They were examined at the RF clinic, every 3 to 6 months, and at any time they did not feel well. During 1979 to 1989, throat cultures and sera for antistreptolysin O and streptozyme titers were obtained at each clinic visit. Chest radiographs, electrocardiogram, color Doppler echocardiograms, and acute phase reactants were obtained. SUBJECTS: Two hundred forty-nine patients fulfilled the revised Jones criteria and were followed until December 1991: 124 in the 3-week and 125 in the 4-week program. Their age, sex, weight, percentage with history of RF, severity of cardiac involvement, follow-up duration, and compliance to program were comparable. Eight hundred eighty throat cultures were collected in the 3-week program and 770 were collected in the 4-week program. Six hundred sixteen and 627 sera were determined in each program for antistreptolysin O, and 582 and 592 sera for streptozyme titers. RESULTS: True streptococcal infections occurred in both programs: 39 infections in the 3-week program, and 59 infections in the 4-week program (7.5 vs 12.7 per 100 patient-years). Four infections with no antibody response occurred in the 3-week program, and three such infections in the 4-week program. Nine RF recurrences occurred in 8 patients in the 3-week program, and 16 recurrences in 16 patients in the 4-week program. Prophylaxis failure occurred in 2 of 124 patients in the 3-week program, and in 10 of 125 patients in the 4-week program (0.25 vs 1.29 per 100 patient-years). The overall recurrences/infections rate in each program was comparable, 13.6% vs 15.5%, but the recurrences/ infections rate due to prophylaxis failure was higher in the 4-week program than in the 3-week program, 3.0% versus 9.7%. CONCLUSIONS: This 12-year prospective and controlled study documented that streptococcal infections and RF recurrences occurred more often in the 4-week program than in the 3-week program. The risk of prophylaxis failure was fivefold greater in the 4-week program than in the 3-week program.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Use of vilozen and ketotifen combination for increasing the effectiveness and prevention of complications of antibiotic therapy of streptococcal infections].

The clinical efficacy of a vilozen and ketotifen (zaditen) combination in the treatment of streptococcal infections along with the routine therapy was studied. The use of the combination was shown advisable in the complex therapy and prevention of relapses in patients with streptococcal infections. The combined pharmacotherapy promoted better clinical indices, normalization of the immune status and a reduction in the incidence of allergic reactions to antibiotics and a decrease in sensitization to bacterial allergens.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1992

Streptococcal infection and renal disease markers in Australian aboriginal children.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate an association between markers of streptococcal infection and markers of glomerulonephritis in Aboriginal children. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of Aboriginal children of school age. SETTING: Three Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory--two, coastal and one, desert. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty children, randomly selected from the school roll, were studied in each community; thus there were 180 children in total, aged 5-17 years. Midstream urine and venous blood was collected and swabs were taken from the pharynx and from impetiginous skin lesions or axillary skin in the absence of impetigo. Clinical records were examined for evidence of past glomerulonephritis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Swabs were cultured for beta-haemolytic streptococci and isolates were grouped; serum was tested for titres of antistreptolysin O (ASO) and antideoxyribonuclease B (anti-DNaseB). Protein and creatinine levels were measured in urine, and a ratio of protein to creatinine (UPC) of more than 50 mg protein per mmol creatinine was taken as a measure of significant proteinuria. Urine was examined microscopically for glomerular haematuria (greater than 10 red blood cells per microL with at least 20% dysmorphic red cells). RESULTS: Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci were isolated from the throat swabs of two children and from skin swabs of 25 (13.9%) children; 20 of these were from impetiginous lesions and five from normal axillary skin. beta-Haemolytic streptococci of group C or G were grown from the throat swabs of 13 (8.1%) children. The median titre of ASO (256 IU) was raised compared with a reference level, and the median titre of anti-DNaseB (3172 IU) was particularly high; ASO titres were significantly higher in 31 children with impetigo than in 149 children without impetigo. Significant proteinuria was present in 7 (3.9%) children and glomerular haematuria in 16 (8.9%). Glomerular haematuria was present in 2/7 (28%) children with proteinuria, 4/21 (19%) children with a past history of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, in 5/31 (16%) of those with impetigo and in 4/25 (16%) of those with positive skin cultures. However, none of these prevalences was significantly greater than the prevalence of glomerular haematuria among the other children. The prevalence of proteinuria differed significantly between communities and increased significantly with age. Furthermore, the differences in childhood proteinuria observed between communities in this study were parallel with community differences in the prevalence of proteinuria in a related study of adults. CONCLUSIONS: Group A streptococci are important causes of impetigo in Aboriginal children. Streptococcal skin infection may contribute to glomerular haematuria, proteinuria and persistent glomerulonephritis in Aboriginal children, and possibly to chronic glomerulonephritis in adult life. Public health programs are needed to reduce the prevalence of impetigo and group A streptococcal infections in Aboriginal communities; longitudinal studies are needed to test the relationship between streptococcal skin infection in Aboriginal children and chronic renal disease in later life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Role of streptococcal infection in the acute pathology of lymphatic filariasis.

Growing evidence suggest that secondary bacterial, mainly streptococcal, infections contribute significantly to recurrent episodes of acute adenolymphangitis (ADL) of filarial origin. We examined the role of group A streptococci in the progression of lymphedema in Polynesian patients with filariasis-related ADL (22 cases) or chronic pathology (10 cases), or with erysipela (10 patients) and, as controls, in 20 healthy adults. Antistreptolysin O (ASLO) and anti-streptodornase B (ASDB) titers were systematically determined in parallel to parasitological and biochemical tests. ASLO and ASDB assays were positive in 100% of erysipela, 75% of filarial ADL as compared to 50% of chronic pathology and 39% of healthy controls. Interestingly, by opposition to ASLO titers which were not significantly different between the four groups, ASDB titers were higher in ADL (p = 0.019) and erysipela (p = 0.002) than in controls. These results support the hypothesis that recurrent streptococcal infections may have an important role in the pathogenesis of ADL in lymphatic filariasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Group A streptococcal infection in an aboriginal community.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether group A streptococcal infection and poststreptococcal sequelae are still a significant health issue for Aboriginal communities. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of streptococcal carriage, infection and antibody levels. SETTING: A north Queensland Aboriginal community. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and twenty preschool and school-aged children (2 to 12 years of age) living in the Lockhart River Community on Cape York Peninsula. RESULTS: Pyoderma was present in 43% of the children and in 76% of these culture of skin lesions grew group A streptococci. Group A streptococci also grew from 13% of throat swabs, making a total of 36% of children culture positive. Anti-streptolysin O and anti-DNAase B levels were remarkably high and increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence presented confirms a high level of group A streptococcal carriage and infection in children of the Lockhart River Community. Further investigation of this problem is warranted in other Aboriginal communities with a view to instituting appropriate control programs.

Antistreptolysin↗
PubMed1990

[A new method for the rapid diagnosis of acute streptococcal infection].

The work deals with the development of the rapid method of the identification of acute streptococcal infection on the basis of the coagglutination test. The rapid method of the extraction of group-specific polysaccharide antigen from the cell walls of group A streptococci is proposed. The data on the use of native sera and their fractions in the development of coagglutination diagnostica have been described and analyzed. The advantages of the new method of the diagnosis of acute streptococcal infection in comparison with the traditional microbiological method are shown.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

[Streptococcal infection: variants and morphological manifestations].

82 cases of streptococcal infection (SI) in children who died in 1977-1985 are studied. Higher incidence of SI in children particularly in those who died at home is emphasized. As a rule, the proper diagnosis was not established clinically. By manifestations the observations were divided into two groups: 1) SI with a pronounced generalization including a pharyngeal one (31 cases), 4 of them with a rash (scarlet fever); extrapharyngeal (7 cases), 6 of them with a rash (scarlet fever); 2) SI without pronounced generalization (localized) including 33 cases with the involvement of the lungs and tonsilla and having an ordinary course and 11 cases of a sudden death. SI structural manifestations involved development of necrotic or purulent-necrotic inflammation of a various degree in the area of the primary focus, regional lymph nodes as well as in the foci resulting from lymphohaematogenic and intracanalicular dissemination. The first symptoms of the septic process could be found even in case of death during the first day of the disease. The role of viral respiratory infection being the background for the SI development, especially for its pharyngeal variant and lung affection, is shown. The significance of thymomegaly and adrenal hypoplasia in the development of a sudden death is revealed.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1998

Fisher's syndrome and group A streptococcal infection.

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus causes immune-mediated disorders such as acute rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. We describe a second patient with Fisher's syndrome (FS) from whom beta-hemolytic streptococcus was isolated. We performed a study of the antecedent pharyngeal symptoms in FS and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Sore throat was statistically more frequent in FS (18/24 cases, 75%) than in Guillain-Barré syndrome (29/58 cases, 50%). In a series, however, the association of FS with group A streptococcal infection was not shown. Some patients may develop FS after group A streptococcal infection, but the bacterium is not a major antecedent agent in FS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Risk factors in the pathogenesis of invasive group A streptococcal infections: role of protective humoral immunity.

An impressive change in the epidemiology and severity of invasive group A streptococcal infections occurred in the 1980s, and the incidence of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome cases continues to rise. The reason for the resurgence of severe invasive cases remains a mystery-has there been a change in the pathogen or in host protective immunity? To address these questions, we have studied 33 patients with invasive infection caused by genotypically indistinguishable M1T1 strains of Streptococcus pyogenes who had different disease outcomes. Patients were classified as having severe (n = 21) and nonsevere (n = 12) invasive infections based on the presence or absence of shock and organ failure. Levels of anti-M1 bactericidal antibodies and of anti-streptococcal superantigen neutralizing antibodies in plasma were significantly lower in both groups than in age- and geographically matched healthy controls (P < 0.01). Importantly, the levels of these protective antibodies in plasma samples from severe and nonsevere invasive cases were not different. Together the data suggest that low levels of protective antibodies may contribute to host susceptibility to invasive streptococcal infection but do not modulate disease outcome. Other immunogenetic factors that regulate superantigen responses may influence the severity of systemic manifestations associated with invasive streptococcal infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[B streptococcal infections in the neonatal period and infancy].

From January 1975 to March 1985 37 newborns and infants with B streptococcal infections were treated in the Pediatric Hospital of the Karl Marx University in Leipzig. The percentage of B streptococcal infections of all neonatal bacterial infections rose in this time from 6.9% to 15.7%. There were 23 early onset type infections and 14 late infections; 12 of the 37 infants died. Septicemia and meningitis were the most important clinical features. The time of beginning of the clinical symptoms in the postnatal period and the results of serotyping suggest a connatal infection in most cases.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1993

[Case report of toxic shock-like syndrome due to group A streptococcal infection].

A case of streptococcal toxic shock like syndrome occurring in a 44-year-old previously healthy Japanese male is reported. He initially had a sore throat, low grade fever, diarrhea and mild pains in a lower extremities. Shortly thereafter, he rapidly developed a high fever, profound hypotension, multifocal epidermal necrosis, and sever purulent fasciitis and myositis in both lower extremities, which required above knee amputation of both legs. He later developed disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, adult respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, coma and necrotizing inflammation of both arms and external genitalia despite treatment. He died on the 13th hospital day. Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from the necrotic muscles and right knee joint. The organism was typed as M3, T3, was sensitive to penicillins, and was found to be producing streptococcal pyogenic exotoxin A in vitro. This is the first case report of streptococcal toxic shock like syndrome in Japan.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Tourette's syndrome and 'PANDAS': will the relation bear out? Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection.

Despite strong evidence of the importance of hereditary factors in the etiology of Tourette's syndrome (TS), research findings have consistently pointed to a role of environmental influences. A recent line of research has suggested that tic disorders and associated behavioral disturbances, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, might develop following streptococcal infection by the process of molecular mimicry, whereby antibodies directed against bacterial antigens cross-react with brain targets. Such investigations have given rise to the notion that there is a spectrum of childhood neurobehavioral disorders (termed pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection [PANDAS]) that arise by postinfectious autoimmune mechanisms. This article reviews research results supporting the concept of PANDAS and discusses their limitations. Well-designed and adequately controlled studies are needed to determine whether there is a true etiologic relation between streptococcal infection and the onset or exacerbation of childhood neuropsychiatric disorders and whether the use of immune-modifying therapies for these conditions is rational.

Autoimmune Diseases↗