Invasive infections with group A βhemolytic streptococci became less common in the early 20th century prior to the widespread use of antibiotics. From the early 1960s until the mid 1980s, reports of invasive infections continued to decline. In the past 5 years, there has been a resurgence of invasive infections and, possibly, also of postinfectious sequelae from this organism. We describe a patient with lung abscess from group A βhemolytic Streptococcus. Lung abscess from hemolytic streptococci was not uncommon in Osler's day, but it was not reported in the English-language literature for 20 years until recently. Clinicians should be aware of the broad and growing spectrum of infections with this pathogen.
(Arch Intern Med. 1991;151:1655-1657)