LeBlanc W, Salah H, Khakoo Y
Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University-Harlem Hospital Center, New York, New York 10037, USA.
J Natl Med Assoc. 1995 May;87(5):347-8.
Serious invasive bacterial infections, particularly those due to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae, are a well-known complication in patients with sickle cell disease. Early penicillin prophylaxis has been shown to prevent these infections and also to improve survival. This article describes a child with sickle cell anemia who, while on penicillin prophylaxis, developed a group A streptococcal bacteremia, a pathogen not commonly associated with bacteremia in sickle cell disease.