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Review
. 2024 Jan;183(1):503-507.
doi: 10.1007/s00431-023-05288-3. Epub 2023 Oct 27.

Mediastinitis secondary to invasive infection by group A Streptococcus in Spain

I Mellado-Sola #  1 , E Cobo-Vázquez  2   3 , A Calvo-Fernandez  4 , E Cervantes  5 , A Coca  6 , B Calderón-Llopis  4 , J Saavedra-Lozano #  7   8   9   10   11 , C Calvo #  12   8   9   13 ; PedGAS-net group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Review

Mediastinitis secondary to invasive infection by group A Streptococcus in Spain

I Mellado-Sola et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2024 Jan.

Abstract

This study describes 5 mediastinitis cases secondary to invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) disease in a recent outbreak in Spain. Among 398 iGAS cases between January 2019-March 2023, 5 (1.3%) were mediastinitis, 4 occurring in December 2022, all secondary to pneumonia or deep neck infection. We outline the clinical outcome with a review of the scarce pediatric literature. Conclusion: mediastinistis is a rare but severe complication of iGAS and a high level of suspicion is required to diagnose it. What is Known: • Group A Streptococcus can cause invasive and severe infections in children. • Mediastinitis is a severe complication from some bacterial infections, mainly secondary due to deep-neck abscesses. What is New: • Mediastinitis is an unrecognized complication due to an invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection. • In cases of a deep-neck abscess or complicated pneumonia a high clinical suspicion of iGAS mediastinitis is required, especially when the clinical course is not favorable.

Keywords: Deep neck infections; Group A Streptococcus; Invasive infections; Mediastinitis; Pneumonia.

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References

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