Beta haemolytic group A streptococci causing urinary tract infection.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and laboratory findings in patients with Group A streptococci (GAS) bacteriuria.

PATIENTS: Patients with GAS bacteriuria seen in a tertiary care hospital in southern India between 1988 and 1993 were identified. Data were collected from the hospital records.

RESULT: GAS were isolated from 15 women and 11 men. Clinical data were available for 24 of these. The condition presented as asymptomatic bacteriuria (nine patients), dysuria or frequency (12), and fever without localizing signs (three). All infections occurred in individuals with systemic or local conditions predisposing to urinary tract infection. All patients responded well to antimicrobial therapy.

CONCLUSION

GAS bacteriuria is rare and occurs only in individuals with other predisposing conditions. Patients with this infection respond well to therapy.