Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis in paediatric febrile pharyngitis: A case series with molecular characterisation from Greece.

We report six paediatric cases of pharyngitis caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis presenting to a Greek public hospital over one year. All children had fever and cervical lymphadenopathy and tested negative for Streptococcus pyogenes. All cases came from a common socioeconomically disadvantaged, high-density setting; however, molecular typing detected two types, stG4 and stC36. All isolates were susceptible to beta-lactams, vancomycin, linezolid and co-trimoxazole. Resistance to macrolides and lincosamides was detected in three isolates and one was resistant to tetracycline. Given the increasing global incidence of this pathogen, this report provides regional data and underscores the need for improved surveillance.