Vulvovaginitis and perineal cellulitis due to group a streptococcus in an adult woman

Perianal infectious dermatitis: An underdiagnosed, unremitting and stubborn condition

Perianal infectious dermatitis (PID) represents a superficial inflammation of the perianal skin, which is of bacterial origin (classically, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci). This narrative review aims to critically review and summarize the available scientific literature regarding pediatric PID, being the first of its kind, to the best of the author’s knowledge. It also reports the first cases of Romanian children with PID. Multiple databases were subjected to systematic literature search (from 1966 to April 30, 2018) to identify studies and case reports of children with PID. As such, this review provides updated information about essential aspects of PID (epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, as well as clinical features, required investigations and therapeutic options) and of diagnostic pitfalls. Although a well-defined entity, PID remains largely underdiagnosed. PID may mimic other common conditions with skin manifestations (like candidiasis, pinworms, eczema, irritant dermatitis, anal fissure, hemorrhoids, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, zinc deficiency dermatosis and even sexual abuse), with consequent unnecessary, sometimes expensive and invasive investigations and futile therapies, which cause patients and families discomfort and distress. Since PID has an unremitting course, early recognition is imperative, as it allows for prompt and efficacious antibiotic therapy. However, PID represents a stubborn condition and, even if properly treated, its recurrence rate remains high. Further well-designed prospective randomized controlled trials, with adequate follow-up, are required in order to formulate the optimum personalized antibiotic therapy (oral alone or in association with topical medication), able to prevent recurrences. Awareness of this condition by healthcare professionals should improve patient outcomes.

Group A streptococcal vaginitis: an unrecognized cause of vaginal symptoms in adult women

PURPOSE

Vaginal infection with group A streptococci (GAS) is an established cause of vaginitis amongst prepubescent girls, but largely unrecognized in adult women and therefore often misdiagnosed as vulvovaginal candidosis. We sought to give an overview of the epidemiology, risk factors, symptoms, signs, and treatment of GAS vaginitis in adult women.

METHODS

Systematic literature search.

RESULTS

We identified nine case reports covering 12 patients with documented GAS vulvovaginitis. GAS vulvovaginitis in adult women is often associated with a predisposing factor: (1) household or personal history of dermal or respiratory infection due to GAS, (2) sexual contact, and (3) lactational or menopausal vaginal atrophy. Symptoms of GAS vulvovaginitis in adult women may include vaginal and/or vulvar pain, dyspareunia, burning sensation or irritation, and pruritus. In most cases, there is also profuse or copious vaginal discharge which may be watery, yellow, or even purulent. Whilst there are neither clinical trials nor treatment guidelines, treatment with oral penicillin or with vaginal clindamycin cream has been reported to result in rapid cure. In breast-feeding and postmenopausal women with vaginal atrophy, additional treatment with local estriol may be necessary to prevent recurrence. Finally, in case of recurrent GAS vulvovaginitis it will be necessary to assess the patients' asymptomatic household members for pharyngeal and anal carriage and to treat them accordingly.

CONCLUSION

Vaginal infection with GAS in adult women is a clearly defined entity and should be considered a diagnosis when more common causes of vaginitis have been ruled out.

Group A Streptococcus vulvovaginitis in breastfeeding women

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus-associated vulvovaginitis is uncommon in adult women. Clinicians should include group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus as a possible cause of vulvovaginal symptoms in breastfeeding women. Along with appropriate antibiotic therapy, vaginal estrogen therapy may be considered to diminish susceptibility to recurrent infection in women with vaginal atrophy.

Lactational amenorrhea as a risk factor for group a streptococcal vaginitis

We report a case of Streptococcus pyogenes, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, Lancefield group A vulvovaginitis in an otherwise healthy adult female patient experiencing lactational amenorrhea. Group A streptococcal infection is the infective cause of vulvovaginitis in 21% of prepubescent girls, but it is an uncommon cause of vulvovaginitis in adults. Group A streptococcal vulvovaginitis is frequently associated with households that have had a recent outbreak of respiratory or dermal infection. The case described here appears to be unusual in that it was sexually transmitted, and the lack of estrogen associated with anovualtion may have been a predisposing factor for this unusual sexually transmitted disease.

Recurrent group A streptococcal vulvovaginitis in adult women: family epidemiology

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GAS) vulvovaginitis has been reported in prepubertal girls. In adult women, a vaginal carrier state has been described, but vulvovaginitis is rarely reported. We describe 2 cases of recurrent GAS vulvovaginitis in women whose husbands were gastrointestinal carriers of GAS. Characterization of the isolated strains demonstrated that identical emm types of GAS were shared by partners. Treatment of both partners resulted in resolution of vaginitis. On the basis of negative vaginal culture results obtained after treatment of each individual episode of vaginitis, we believe that the female patients were reinfected as a result of exposure to their husbands, with shedding likely to have occurred in bed. These cases reiterate the necessity for adequate screening of the patient's family and contacts in cases of recurrent GAS infection by culturing all potential areas of GAS carriage.