What is Group A Streptococcus, how is it transmitted, and what does it cause? Everything you need to know.
Health authorities in the country are on high alert following the deaths of two people in Ilia attributed to invasive streptococcus, while three more individuals are exhibiting symptoms.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, several European countries reported an increase in cases of invasive Group A streptococcal disease compared to previous years. The EODY started recording all iGAS cases in the country from the beginning of 2023. In 2023, 90 iGAS cases were reported to EODY (48 children and 42 adults), of which 23 were fatal (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 stated on the official page of EODY, 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 severe, even fatal if not treated properly.
In a small percentage (1-5%) of individuals, the bacterium is found in their pharynx or skin or other areas without causing illness, meaning these individuals are healthy carriers of the bacterium.
Transmission method
Group A streptococcus is transmitted through:
- Infected droplets from patient secretions
- Contact with contaminated surfaces
- Contact with infected skin lesions of patients
- From healthy carriers of the bacterium
Group A streptococcus is transmitted much more easily by symptomatic and ill individuals than by healthy carriers of the bacterium.
Who is considered vulnerable
Anyone can become ill from a streptococcal infection. However, those most vulnerable to the bacterium include young children, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, people with chronic illnesses, and those living in poor hygiene conditions and crowded 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 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 appropriate antibiotics, it can lead to serious complications such as kidney damage (post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis) or heart issues (rheumatic fever).
The symptoms experienced by the affected individual depend on the type of infection caused by the bacterium. For example, pharyngotonsillitis manifests with fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, swollen tonsils with a whitish coating, swollen lymph nodes, and petechial hemorrhages on the 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, without appropriate and immediate treatment, can lead to death.
Forms of invasive disease caused by the bacterium include necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
Treatment method
When a Group A streptococcus infection is diagnosed, specialists treat it promptly with antibiotics, depending on the severity of the infection.
Preventive measures for streptococcal infection from pyogenic streptococcus include:
- Proper implementation of hygiene rules and hand hygiene
- Adoption of personal protective measures
- Avoidance of crowding and proper ventilation of spaces
- Proper cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and frequently used objects, according to expert guidelines
- Limiting sick individuals to home care for at least twenty-four hours after starting their antibiotic treatment
It should be noted that currently, there is no vaccine for the prevention of streptococcal infection from Group A streptococcus. However, some clinical trials are underway.