STREPTOCOCCUS MILLERI AND SURGICAL SEPSIS

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (2) , 78-79
Abstract
For many years viridans streptococci were considered as commensal organisms in a wide variety of sites in the human body and only regarded as significant pathogens in subacute bacterial endocarditis. In recent years some reports have suggested that a particular species, S. milleri, can be a virulent pathogen, producing life threatening sepsis particularly in surgical patients. We review here our experience of this organism in 23 general surgical patients over a 3 year period, and postulate that prophylactic use of antibiotic combinations such as gentamicin and metronidazole in patients undergoing colo-rectal surgery may be a factor promoting its emergence as a significant pathogen. Patients with established sepsis due to S. milleri should be considered for long-term antibiotic therapy as part of the treatment of their abscesses.

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