What is Group A Streptococcus, how is it transmitted, and what does it cause? All you need to know.
Health authorities in the country are on heightened alert following the deaths of two individuals in Ilia attributed to invasive streptococcus, while three more people are showing symptoms.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, several European countries reported an increase in cases of invasive Group A streptococcus disease compared to previous years. The EODY began tracking all iGAS cases in the country from the beginning of 2023. In 2023, the EODY reported 90 iGAS cases (48 children and 42 adults), of which 23 resulted in death (26%), including 9 children and 14 adults. Since the beginning of 2024, 48 cases have been reported (21 children and 27 adults), with 12 deaths (25%), of which 3 were children and 9 adults.
What is Group A Streptococcus
As we read on the official EODY page, Group A streptococcus, also known as pyogenic streptococcus or GAS (Group A Streptococcus), is a bacterium that can cause various infections in humans, usually mild but in rare cases very serious, even fatal if not adequately treated.
In a small percentage (1-5%) of individuals, the bacterium is found in their throat or skin or other sites, without causing disease, meaning these individuals are healthy carriers of the bacterium.
How it Spreads
Group A streptococcus spreads through:
- Infected droplets from the secretions of patients
- Contact with contaminated surfaces
- Contact with patients’ infected skin lesions
- From healthy carriers of the bacterium
Group A streptococcus spreads much more easily from symptomatic and sick individuals than from healthy carriers of the bacterium.
Who is Considered Vulnerable
Anyone can become ill from a streptococcal infection. However, the most vulnerable to the bacterium are young children, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, people with chronic diseases, and those living in poor hygiene conditions and overcrowded environments.
Pyogenic streptococcus is one of the most common causes of pharyngotonsillitis in school-aged children.
Symptoms
Group A streptococcus typically causes infections such as pharyngotonsillitis (strep throat), fever, and a skin rash known as scarlet fever, as well as skin infections like impetigo and cellulitis, which is inflammation of the epidermis and subcutaneous fat.
In some cases, if the streptococcal infection is not treated with the appropriate antibiotics, it can lead to serious complications such as kidney involvement (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis) or heart issues (rheumatic fever).
The symptoms presented by the affected individual depend on the type of infection caused by the bacterium. For example, pharyngotonsillitis manifests with fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the tonsils with a whitish coating, swollen lymph nodes, and petechiae on the soft palate.
In rare cases, Group A streptococcus can cause invasive disease in humans (iGAS – invasive Group A Streptococcus), which is a very serious infection that can lead to death without appropriate and immediate treatment.
Forms of invasive disease caused by the bacterium include necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
Treatment
Once the infection from Group A streptococcus is diagnosed, specialists immediately treat it with antibiotics, depending on the severity of the infection.
Preventive measures for streptococcal infections from pyogenic streptococcus include:
- Proper adherence to hygiene rules and hand hygiene
- Implementation of personal protective measures
- Avoiding crowded conditions and ensuring proper ventilation of spaces
- Proper cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and frequently used items, according to the experts’ guidelines
- Limiting the number of infected individuals in home care for at least 24 hours after starting their antibiotic treatment
It is important to note that currently, there is no vaccine to prevent streptococcal infection from Group A streptococcus. However, some clinical trials are ongoing.