Fatal Case of Pneumonia Caused by a Nonhemolytic Strain of Streptococcus pyogenes

We report a case of pneumonia with a fatal outcome caused by a nonhemolytic strain of Streptococcus pyogenes. This strain was isolated in pure growth from blood cultures and was fully identified biochemically. Such strains will be difficult to recognize and isolate from sites with heavy growth of normal flora. This phenomenon has been reported sporadically before, and it is unknown how common such strains may be in pharyngeal samples.