Group G streptococcal meningitis and sepsis in a patient with AIDS. A method to biotype group G streptococcus.

ABSTRACT

Lancefield group G streptococcus is now recognized as a pathogen and has been reported to cause severe infections, including meningitis. We describe the first case of meningitis caused by this organism in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the direct transmission of the pathogen to a technologist accidentally exposed to the cerebrospinal fluid. To prove the identity of the two strains, we have tested them employing the Vitek system. We have also tested 13 other strains of group G streptococci obtained from different sources. Our results yielded 14 different biotypes with the 15 strains tested. The only identical ones were the two suspect strains from the index case and the technologist. We conclude that the biotyping system employed in our study appears to be a useful epidemiological tool for marking group G streptococci.