Streptococcus dysgalactiae Subspecies dysgalactiae Infection Presenting With Septic Shock

Abstract

Streptococcus dysgalactiae has two main subspecies: Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies dysgalactiae (SDSD) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE). Although there are various case reports of SDSE causing clinical infection in humans, very few reports of SDSD causing human infections have been reported in the literature. As of date, there are only five case reports of infection with SDSD and all five patients survived the infection. We report a case of a 40-year-old male who presented with features of right upper limb cellulitis and went into septic shock. This report is unique as it presents the first report of SDSD causing fulminant sepsis in humans. Elevation of total fraction of creatinine kinase was also seen in our patient which could be due to myositis or rhabdomyolysis.