Fatal Group A Streptococcal Meningitis and Toxic Shock-Like Syndrome: Case Report

A previously healthy 8-year-old girl presented with flulike symptoms, developed toxic shocklike syndrome, and died within 48 hours. At autopsy she was found to have purulent meningitis. The group A β-hemolytic streptococcus isolated from her CSF was a member of clone ET 2. This strain produced a variant form of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPEA2) that has recently been associated with widespread toxic shock-like syndrome