Increase in invasive group A streptococcal infection notifications, England, 2022.
Rebecca Guy, Katherine L Henderson, Juliana Coelho, Helen Hughes, Emily L Mason, Sarah M Gerver, Alicia Demirjian, Conall Watson, Ashley Sharp, Colin S Brown, Theresa Lamagni
Author Information
Rebecca Guy: HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Katherine L Henderson: HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Juliana Coelho: Staphylococcus and Streptococcus Reference Section, AMRHAI, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Helen Hughes: Real-time Syndromic Surveillance Team, Field Services Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Emily L Mason: HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Sarah M Gerver: HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Alicia Demirjian: HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Conall Watson: Immunisation and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Ashley Sharp: HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Colin S Brown: HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Theresa Lamagni: HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.
Increases in invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infection and associated deaths, particularly in children, above seasonally expected levels are being seen this season (772 notifications reported in weeks 37 to 48 in 2022) across England. Diagnoses of iGAS infection from lower respiratory tract specimens in children under 15 years increased to 28% in November 2022. Medical practitioners have been alerted to the exceptional increase in incidence, including unusual numbers of children presenting with pulmonary empyema.
