Group A Streptococcus Septicemia and an Infected, Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Associated with Pharyngitis

Abstract

A 65-year-old man had a 3-day history of sore throat, fever, rigors, back pain, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The patient's daughter had group A streptococcus pharyngitis. The patient was found to have a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. He underwent resection of the aneurysm and right axillary femoro-femoral bypass graft. The patient died 40 hours after admission. Gram stain of the aneurysm showed numerous gram-positive cocci. Group A streptococcus grew from cultures of blood, throat, and aneurysm. The group A streptococcus was M type 3, T type 3 and produced streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A. This case is a very rare fatal complication of group A streptococcus pharyngitis.