Group G streptococcal bacteremia: clinical study and review of the literature.

Patients with group G streptococcal bactermia represented 10.8% of those with beta-hemolytic streptococcal bacteremia and 0.3% of all those with bacteremia between 1970 and 1980 at Mayo Clinic-affiliated hospitals. The most frequent portal of entry was the skin, usually in cases with preexisting edema due to previous surgical removal, irradiation, or tumor infiltration of lymph nodes, or to chronic venous insufficiency. The majority of these patients had underlying hematologic malignancies or solid tumors. Clinical response to therapy with beta-lactam antibiotics was rapid.