TOXIC-SHOCK-SYNDROME - CLONAL RELATEDNESS AMONG GROUP-A STREPTOCOCCUSISOLATES FROM A CASE AND ITS CONTACTS

Group A Streptococcal infections have increased in severity and freque ncy worldwide. We report a female patient that was admitted by Group A Streptococcal lethal toxic shock syndrome due to pharyngitis as the p rimary focus and without cutaneous involvement. Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from blood cultures and case definition fulfilled standa rd recommendations. Epidemiological studies among family members showe d that two children (aged 5 and 12 years) harbored the same strain in their pharynxes as confirmed by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) using primers ERIC and Pu-1. Control strains were included in the analysis. None of three health care workers involved in intubation and laryngosc opic procedures with the patient carried S pyogenes. AP-PCR appears to be a useful and rapid procedure to demonstrate clonal relatedness amo ng S pyogenes strains.