Clinical and molecular epidemiology of erythromycin-resistant beta-hemolytic lancefield group G streptococci causing bacteremia.

Among 100 patients with group G beta-hemolytic streptococcal bacteremia in a 6-year period (1997 to 2002), seven had bacteremia caused by erythromycin-resistant strains. Five of the seven patients had cellulitis and/or abscesses. The two isolates resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin possessed erm genes, one ermTR and the other ermB. The five isolates resistant to erythromycin but sensitive to clindamycin and one of those resistant to both erythromycin and clindamycin possessed mef genes.