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Group A Streptococcal Bacteremias Associated With Intravascular Catheters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Michael A. Martin*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Joan N. Hebden
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Carlos I. Bustamante
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Lewis J. Rubin
Affiliation:
Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
*
University of Maryland Hospital, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Extract

Most intravascular device-related infections are caused by staphylococci, presumably because the microbial flora of the skin surface is the major reservoir of microorganisms colonizing and infecting percutaneously-inserted intravascular cannulas.

Recently, we observed two episodes of group A streptococcal cellulitis and bacteremia related to infection of the subcutaneous tunnel of indwelling catheters. This prompted us to review our experience with nosocomial and community-acquired group A streptococcal bacteremias for the past year, and we identified a third catheter-related case. In our ongoing prospective surveillance of nosocomial bacteremias, we have not previously identified any other cases of intravascular catheter-related bacteremia caused by group A streptococcus. Likewise, in two large prospective studies of Hickman and Broviac catheter-related infections, the investigators did not report infections caused by this organism.

Type
Readers' Forum
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1990 

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