Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome: a description of 14 cases from North Yorkshire, UK.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and laboratory features of patients diagnosed with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS) in North Yorkshire from 1986 to 1999. METHODS: Records of patients with features satisfying the published criteria for streptococcal TSS were reviewed from laboratory and clinical records made at the time and from the hospital case notes. Isolates of streptococci were analyzed for serotype and genes encoding for the production of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins. RESULTS: Fourteen patients satisfied the entry criteria. In one district, where the data were complete, the annual incidence of detected streptococcal TSS rose from 1.1 to 9.5 cases per million population in the 1990s. TSS was associated with various M serotypes of group A streptococci and various exotoxin genotypes. Two cases (14% of the series) were associated with severe group G streptococcal infection. The fatality rate was 64%, and the mode of time to death was 4 days. Local tissue necrosis occurred in 71% of cases, including necrotizing fasciitis, intrathoracic and intra-abdominal forms. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had been taken around the time of onset of disease by 92% of the patients with TSS. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a dramatic increase in the number of detected cases of streptococcal TSS over the 14 years since the first case was recognized here. There was a wide range of invasive forms of infection, a high fatality rate even in fit young adults, and a rapid course from onset to death. There was a high association of TSS with aggressive streptococcal infection producing local tissue necrosis.

Bacteraemic Streptococcus pyogenes infection in the peri-partum period: now a rare disease and prior carriage by the patient may be important.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the features of invasive peri-partum Streptococcus pyogenes infection as it occurs in current day practice in North Yorkshire. METHODS: The case and laboratory records of all mothers and/or babies with detected S. pyogenes bacteraemia in the Harrogate and Northallerton districts of North Yorkshire (combined catchment population 260 000) were reviewed for the 20 years 1980-99. An additional bacteraemic case occurring recently in the York district was included. RESULTS: In six recorded episodes, both mother and baby were affected in three, mother only in two and baby only in one. The incidence of detected infection was one such episode per million population per year, one episode per 11 000 live births and one infected baby per 18 000 live births. Maternal features included endometritis, septicaemia, peritonitis, necrotising fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome while, in babies, infection was manifest by stillbirth or septicaemia, cyanosis, jaundice, lethargy and cellulitis. CONCLUSION: Peri-partum S. pyogenes infection is rare in North Yorkshire, with a local incidence revealed in this study of 1/million population/year, or 1:11 000 live births. Invasive neonatal infection with S. pyogenes appears to be six times less frequent in this locality than with group B streptococci. Mothers and/or their babies can be affected. Data suggests that some infection is autogenous from streptococci carried in the mother's genital tract. Although data in this setting are currently few, when a mother has suspected invasive group A streptococcal infection we recommend that the newborn child should also receive antibiotics without delay.