Osteomyelitis Caused by β-Hemolytic Streptococcus Group B

BOVINE mastitis caused byStreptococcuswas recognized long before βhemolyticStreptococcusgroup B (GBS) was characterized. It was initially termed "S agalactiae" or "S mastitidis" and was believed not to be a human pathogen. Subsequent studies demonstrated that GBS could produce serious infections in postpartum women. During the last decade, GBS has been recognized as causing neonatal sepsis and meningitis, but only recently have adult infections achieved wide recognition.1In adults, bacterial endocarditis, septicemia, pneumonia, empyema, peritonitis, meningitis, urinary tract infections, cellulitis, wound infections, and suppurative arthritis have been reported. However, osteomyelitis caused by GBS has only been reported in five neonates2-4and there has been one possible adult case.5 We report the cases of two adult men who had osteomyelitis caused by GBS. One patient had osteomyelitis of the toe associated with diabetes mellitus, and the second patient had frontal sinusitis that resulted in frontal osteomyelitis