Risk factors and Predictors of Mortality in Streptococcal Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections: A Multicenter Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTI) are life-threatening conditions often caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci, group A streptococcus (GAS) in particular. Optimal treatment is contentious. The INFECT cohort includes the largest set of prospectively enrolled streptococcal NSTI cases to date. METHODS: From the INFECT cohort of 409 adults admitted with NSTI to five clinical centers in Scandinavia, patients culture-positive for GAS or Streptococcus dysgalactiae (SD) were selected. Risk factors were identified by comparison with a cohort of non-necrotizing streptococcal cellulitis. The impact of baseline factors and treatment on 90-day mortality was explored using Lasso regression. Whole-genome sequencing of bacterial isolates was used for emm typing and virulence gene profiling. RESULTS: The 126 GAS NSTI cases and 27 cases caused by SD constituted 31% and 7% of the whole NSTI cohort, respectively. When comparing to non-necrotizing streptococcal cellulitis, streptococcal NSTI was associated to blunt trauma, absence of pre-existing skin lesions, and a lower BMI. Septic shock was significantly more frequent in GAS (65%) compared to SD (41%) and polymicrobial, non-streptococcal NSTI (46%). Age, male sex, septic shock, and no administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) were among factors associated with 90-day mortality. Predominant emm types were emm1, emm3 and emm28 in GAS and stG62647 in SD. CONCLUSIONS: Streptococcal NSTI was associated with several risk factors, including blunt trauma. Septic shock was more frequent in NSTI caused by GAS than in cases due to SD. Factors associated with mortality in GAS NSTI included age, septic shock and no administration of IVIG.