1520. Streptococcus anginosus Group Organisms Are an Increasing Cause of Complicated Sinusitis and Otitis Media in Children

BACKGROUND: The Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG), including S. anginosus, S. intermedius and S. constellatus, are common flora of the oral cavity, respiratory tree and gastrointestinal tract. However, these organisms have the potential to cause serious invasive infections and are notably pyogenic. We observed an apparent increase in the frequency of intraorbital and intracranial infections resulting from SAG at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH). We undertook a retrospective review to describe the frequency and clinical features of these infections. METHODS: We reviewed the database of the clinical microbiology laboratory at TCH from 2011 to 2018 for SAG-positive cultures. For purposes of this study, cases included were those associated with 1) either otitis media or sinusitis and 2) Pott’s Puffy Tumor, orbital abscesses, epidural abscesses, subdural empyema, brain parenchymal abscesses, dural enhancement by imaging or mastoiditis. Similar methods were used for SAG identification throughout the study period. The number of cases per year was used along with annual hospital admissions data to estimate case rate; case rate trends were examined using linear regression. RESULTS: 950 cultures positive for SAG were identified by the clinical lab; 95 cases met inclusion criteria. The median age of patients was 11.4 years. Specific diagnoses are presented in Figure 1. S. intermedius was most commonly isolated (81.1%) followed by S. constellatus (12.6%) and S. anginosus (7.4%); 50.5% of cases were polymicrobial. Among polymicrobial cases, S. aureus was most frequently isolated (25%). All patients underwent surgical intervention and 20.5% underwent ≥2 procedures (Figure 2). 16.8% were associated with intracranial thromboses and 4.2% with CNS infarcts; 8.4% of patients experienced persistent neurologic deficits. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin. We observed an increase in the annual disease rate during the study (Figure 3, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Complications of otitis media and sinusitis due to SAG are associated with substantial morbidity. These infections are becomingly increasingly common at our center although the precise reason for this temporal trend is unclear. Multicenter studies are needed to validate these epidemiologic findings. [Image: see text] [Image: see text] [Image: see text] DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.