Strep A is very common in school-age children, with one in 10 children having the bacteria in their throats at any one time. When left untreated, it can result in severe disease which can cause heart and kidney failure.
Key messages. Invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) including cases of severe illness, particularly among children, continues to be observed in Victoria. iGAS is caused by infection with a bacterium known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS), which also commonly causes skin and throat infections.
Hundreds of cases of the potentially deadly illness Strep A have been identified across Australia, prompting authorities to issue warnings for the disease. More than 500 official cases of invasive streptococcal disease have been identified so far this year, compared to about 1200 cases for all of 2022.
How Common is Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease? It is estimated that about 10,000-15,000 cases of invasive GAS disease occur in the U.S. each year resulting in over 2,000 deaths. CDC estimates there are 500-1,500 cases of necrotizing fasciitis and 2,000-3,000 cases of STSS each year in the United States.
Risk factors for group A streptococcal infection
iGAS is rare but some people are at increased risk, including: household contacts of someone with iGAS (within the past 30 days)
Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics. But rarely, the infection can cause serious problems. This is called invasive group A strep (iGAS).
Bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep) can cause many different infections. These infections range from minor illnesses to very serious and deadly diseases.
Respiratory droplets
Group A strep bacteria often live in the nose and throat. People who are infected spread the bacteria by talking, coughing, or sneezing, which creates respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria. People can get sick if they: Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria.
Penicillin or amoxicillin is the antibiotic of choice. There has never been a report of a clinical isolate of group A strep that is resistant to penicillin.
Group A Streptococcus
Most group A strep infections cause relatively mild illness, but on rare occasions, these bacteria can lead to severe and even life-threatening disease.
One explanation could be that a recent spike in respiratory virus infections has left people more susceptible to infection with group A streptococcus. At least five European countries have reported an increase in invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) infections in recent months, and in some cases, scarlet fever.
Group A strep pharyngitis can occur in people of all ages. It is most common among children 5 through 15 years of age. It is rare in children younger than 3 years of age. The most common risk factor is close contact with another person with group A strep pharyngitis.
Most cases of throat infection will pass without the need for treatment and skin infections may require a short course of antibiotics. On rare occasions, GAS can cause severe diseases called invasive GAS disease.
Who is at Higher Risk for Death Due to Streptococcus pyogenes? Overall death rates for all invasive S. pyogenes infections range from 10–30% (18). For severe invasive infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis and STSS, death rates can rise as high as 80% (6, 16, 17).
The management of severe invasive group A streptococcal disease involves the following: supportive treatment with the use of fluid and electrolytes; specific therapy with antimicrobials; and the use of measures to minimize or neutralize the effects of toxin production, where indicated.
Group A strep bacteria are spread by direct contact with body fluids, such as secretions from the nose and throat or wound drainage from an infected person. Casual contact (as in work and school) and household items (like toys) rarely play any role in spreading the bacteria.
Early signs and symptoms may include: High fever; • Severe muscle aches/pain; • Localized muscle tenderness; • Redness at the site of a wound; • Dizziness; • Confusion; and • Flat rash over large areas of the body (occurs in 10 percent of cases).
Throat pain that usually comes on quickly. Painful swallowing. Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus. Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)
No, strep throat won't go away on its own. A type of bacteria causes strep throat, and antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria. Strep throat can lead to more serious illnesses if not treated, so it's important to start on antibiotics immediately.
In late 2022, an ongoing disease outbreak caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, a Lancefield group A streptococcus, began in the United Kingdom. It is often referred to as the Strep A outbreak in the media.
Bacteria cause scarlet fever
Bacteria called group A Streptococcus (group A strep) cause scarlet fever. These bacteria are also the cause of strep throat. The bacteria sometimes make a toxin (poison), which causes a rash — the “scarlet” of scarlet fever.
The most serious infections linked to GAS come from invasive group A strep, known as iGAS. These infections are caused by the bacteria getting into parts of the body where it is not normally found, such as the lungs or bloodstream. In rare cases an iGAS infection can be fatal.
A. Strep throat typically resolves in three to five days if untreated. Despite the short duration, antibiotic treatment is recommended to reduce the risk of complications. Symptoms typically resolve within one to three days following the start of antibiotics.
Caused by the group A streptococcus bacteria, strep throat is an infection that requires prompt treatment, particularly in children over the age of 3. Left untreated, strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever, a serious illness that can cause stroke and permanent damage to the heart.