Culture-negative severe septic shock: indications for streptococcal aetiology based on plasma antibodies and superantigenic activity

Scand J Infect Dis. 2001;33(8):634-7. doi: 10.1080/00365540110026809.

Abstract

We present a severe septic shock syndrome patient with negative blood cultures. Acute and convalescent plasma samples from the patient were analysed for anti-streptolysin O titres, superantigen-neutralizing activity and presence of superantigenic activity. The plasma analyses implicated superantigen-producing Streptococcus pyogenes as the causative agent.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Bacteremia / blood
  • Bacteremia / diagnosis
  • Bacteremia / microbiology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Shock, Septic / blood
  • Shock, Septic / diagnosis
  • Shock, Septic / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / blood
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / immunology
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / isolation & purification*
  • Superantigens / blood*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Superantigens