Streptococcus pyogenes can asymptomatically colonize humans and may cause invasive diseases, such as sepsis, pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (1,2). We present the case of a 22-year-old man without any potential risk factors, who developed a pulmonary abscess with empyema due to S. pyogenes. The patient initially presented with a high fever (40.5 °C), cough, and hemoptysis. A physical examination revealed a heartbeat of 140 beats per minute and respiratory rate of 62 breaths per minute, and imaging studies revealed a large lung abscess in the right lower lobe. The white blood cell count was 9,460/mL, and the C-reactive protein level was 39.56 mg/dL. Microbiological cultures of both sputum and right pleural fluid confirmed S. pyogenes as the single causative agent. The patient was treated with intravenous clindamycin and penicillin G. Although our patient's clinical course was good, S. pyogenes pneumonia commonly shows a high rate of fatality and septicemia and may affect an otherwise healthy population (1).
Picture.
The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).
References
- 1.Akuzawa N, Kurabayashi M. Bacterial pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pyogenes infection: a case report and review of the literature. J Clin Med Res 8: 831-835, 2016. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.O'Loughlin RE, Roberson A, Cieslak PR, et al. The epidemiology of invasive group A streptococcal infection and potential vaccine implications: United States, 2000-2004. Clin Infect Dis 45: 853-862, 2007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]