Successful treatment of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest due to streptococcal toxic shock syndrome – effectiveness of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and the rapid antigen group A streptococcus test: a case report

BACKGROUND: Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, a group A streptococcus, infection is a rare condition that rapidly progresses to multiple organ failure, shock, and death. It is thus important to promptly establish a diagnosis, provide hemodynamic support, and initiate appropriate antibiotics therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old Asian man presented with ventricular fibrillation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated 20 minutes after admission after unsuccessful conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation including five attempts of electrical cardioversion. On the sixth attempt, a sinus rhythm was obtained. A physical examination revealed a large abscess in his right gluteal region, and computed tomography showed a large low-density area in the right gluteus maximus. Blood examination revealed elevated levels of inflammatory markers, hepatic enzymes, creatinine, and creatinine kinase. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated diffuse hypokinesis with an ejection fraction of 25%. A subsequent coronary angiography revealed normal findings. Therefore, we diagnosed our patient as having septic shock and conducted surgical drainage. A rapid antigen group A streptococcus test yielded positive results, which necessitated treatment comprising benzylpenicillin and clindamycin. He was successfully weaned from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and continuous hemodiafiltration 4 days later and ventilation 9 days later; he was later transferred to another hospital to receive a skin graft. CONCLUSIONS: Our case report is the first to demonstrate the successful treatment of cardiac arrest caused by streptococcal toxic shock syndrome via extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy. The rapid antigen group A streptococcus test may be an effective approach to promptly diagnose streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by group A streptococcus infection.