First molecular evidence of intrauterine and surgical-site infections caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2016 Jun 30;10(6):673-7. doi: 10.3855/jidc.7914.

Abstract

S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) is infrequently associated with maternal infections during delivery in pregnant women. A rare case is presented of a woman with intrauterine infection and surgical-site infection due to SDSE after cesarean section, which had colonized her genital tract and, via the ascending pathway, reached her intact fetal membrane. All isolates were identified as Streptococcus Lancefield group G, and their emm genes that coded M protein belonged to stG6.1. The isolates tested negative for a series of streptococcal superantigen virulence genes but positive for nonsuperantigenic virulence genes. In particular, molecular typing using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis disclosed that the three isolates from the different infection sites had identical profiles. Furthermore, multilocus sequence typing indicated that the three isolates belonged to a new sequence typing. Our results indicated that SDSE is potentially pathogenic for pregnant women and newborns if colonized.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Cesarean Section / adverse effects*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Pregnancy
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis*
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / pathology*
  • Streptococcus / classification
  • Streptococcus / genetics
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / diagnosis*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Surgical Wound Infection / pathology*
  • Uterine Diseases / pathology*
  • Virulence Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Virulence Factors
  • streptococcal M protein