CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF BACTEREMIA INVOLVING THE STREPTOCOCCUS-MILLERI GROUP - 51 CASES AND REVIEW

Fifty-one cases of bacteremia due to the ''Streptococcus milleri'' gro up were analyzed. Among these were 40 patients with underlying disease s, and associated local infections were present in 27 patients. The mo st frequent sites of infection were the thoracic cavity and the digest ive and hepatobiliary tracts. A probable portal of entry related to mu cosal-barrier trauma was identified for an additional 16 patients. The origin of bacteremia was unknown for the remaining eight patients. Ab scess formation was evident for only six patients, and there were no c ases of endocarditis. Multiple positive blood cultures and polymicrobi al bacteremia were associated significantly with the presence of local sites of infection. The most common causative species were Streptococ cus anginosus and Streptococcus constellatus. Two patients died of bac teremia.