Streptococcus G positive in throat, facelift or no?

Question

So I cancelled my cosmetic surgery due to STREPTOCCOCUS group G found in my throat, It seems that this group of STREP is able to cause streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), infections similar to GABHS, such as pharyngitis, skin and soft tissue infection, sepsis, toxic shock, reactive arthritis, necrotizing fasciitis,etc It seems that there are reported cases of patients dying after surgeries because of it. Am I in danger or not ? I have it in throat... no symptom, what should I do ?

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

You would have to be treated first - even if you are asymptomatic - before getting your surgery.

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

An intervenous dose of antibiotics is usually given prior to most surgical procedures. This allows a level of antibiotics to be in your blood at the time your surgeon starts operating and, in concert with meticulous sterile surgical technique helps to minimize or prevent any risk of infection.  Infection after facelift is very rare.  As an added layer of protection, you may consult with an infectious disease specialist who could direct you to the most appropriate antibiotic to be given prior to your surgery, and recommend whether this anabiotic should be continued for a certain number of days after your surgery.  I think with your surgeon, your infectious disease specialist, and your preoperative preparation of your skin all working in concert, you should be able to proceed with confidence. Best wishes.

Lexie Wang, MD · Answer

How did you know that you have this growing in your throat? Was a throat culture obtained, and if so, why? There's a lot of people running around in the world who grow strep in their throats and are asymptomatic, and this is simply because they are colonized with strep but it doesn't necessarily cause an infection. If that is truly the case for you, then it likely should not cause you any issues unless you are undergoing general anesthesia and something bad happens during intubation such as injuring your throat in any way (very rare).

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

This bacteria should be sensitive to anabiotic’s, and most plastic surgeons will use perioperative antibiotics and a short course of postoperative antibiotics. I suggest you discuss your medical history with your plastic surgeon during consultation or preoperative visit. Your surgeon may or may not wish to obtain an infectious disease consultation based on their comfort level.
Most likely, your surgery will go fine as long as you’ve determined you’re a good candidate for surgery and found the right provider to do the job correctly.
Lots of people carry bacteria that can be pathologic in certain instances. This does not make the bacteria itself dangerous per se.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Streptococcus G positive in throat, facelift or no?

Answers (4)

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