Group G streptococci in healthy school-children and in patients with glomerulonephritis in Trinidad

Abstract

The group G streptococcus has generally not been considered a prominent pathogen. In a 1982 study of the colonization rate by beta-haemolytic streptococci in apparently healthy children, age 5-11 years, 25 of 69 isolates belonged to group G. This surprisingly high rate of group G colonization (14.3%) led to a retrospective study of school surveys in 1967 which showed that the colonization rate with this organism was 2.3% (range 1.3-3.5%). A review of bacitracin-sensitive streptococcal isolates from hospital admissions of patients with acute glomerulonephritis (AGN), rheumatic fever, and their siblings, between January 1967 and July 1980, was conducted. Of 1063 bacitracin-sensitive isolates, 63 were group G, and 52 of these were isolated from AGN patients and their siblings, i.e. 7 from skin lesions of AGN patients, 40 from the throats of siblings and only 5 from the skins of the siblings. The other 11 group G isolates were from rheumatic-fever patients and their siblings. Thus, the group G colonization rate fluctuates in the population. The isolation of only group G streptococci from skin lesions of patients with AGN suggests a possible association between group G streptococcal pyoderma and acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Outbreaks of human infection caused by pyogenic streptococci of Lancefield groups C and G

“…There was no evidence of nosocomial spread. Acute glomerulonephritis after group G streptococcal infection is rare (Gnann et al, 1987), but some strains in this study were associated with glomerulonephritis, a finding that has also been reported in the West Indies following skin infections (Reid et al, 1985). Group G streptococci were also isolated from neonatal and maternal infections.…”

emmand C-Repeat Region Molecular Typing of Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci in a Tropical Country: Implications for Vaccine Development

“…We have observed higher than expected rates of invasive GCS/ GGS in Fiji, as well as high pharyngeal carriage among school children (43). There is also some evidence to suggest that these organisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute rheumatic fever and poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (13,30). There are very few data regarding emm sequence typing of GCS/GGS and no available data regarding sequence typing of the C-repeat region of these organisms (22).…”

Septic Osteoarthritis Due to Streptococcus dysgalactiae Subspecies equisimilis in a Three-Year-Old Girl

“…and glomerulonephritis (12). To the authors' notice SDSE arthritis in children was not reported previously.…”