The Treatment of Severe Group A Streptococcal Infections

Group A streptococci can cause a variety of diseases ranging from uncomplicated superficial infections to severe systemic infections associated with high morbidity and mortality. Since the late 1980s a drastic resurgence of highly aggressive invasive streptococcal infections, including streptococcal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current infectious disease reports 2003, Vol.5 (1), p.28-37
Main Authors: Norrby-Teglund, Anna, Norrby, S. Ragnar, Low, Donald E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antigens
Immunoglobulins
Infectious diseases
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
Mortality
Pathology
Streptococcus infections
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Summary:Group A streptococci can cause a variety of diseases ranging from uncomplicated superficial infections to severe systemic infections associated with high morbidity and mortality. Since the late 1980s a drastic resurgence of highly aggressive invasive streptococcal infections, including streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis, have been noted worldwide. This has prompted intense research in the field and important new information has been gained regarding the pathogenesis and treatment of life-threatening invasive group A streptococcal infections. Exotoxins with superantigenic activities have been identified as central mediators of the systemic effects seen in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Novel therapeutic strategies include agents that can inhibit these superantigens, and one promising candidate is intravenous polyspecific immunoglobulin that contains neutralizing antibodies against a wide spectrum of streptococcal superantigens. Intravenous immunoglobulin adjunctive therapy was shown in a case-control study to reduce mortality in patients with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
ISSN:1523-3847
1534-3146
DOI:10.1007/s11908-003-0062-2