Clinical and molecular epidemiological features of critically ill patients with invasive group A Streptococcus infections: a Belgian multicenter case-series
Authors' conclusion
The recent rise of severe GAS infections (2022-23) is associated with introduction of the M1UK lineage in Belgium, but other factors may be at play-including intense circulation of respiratory viruses and potentially an immune debt after the COVID pandemic.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with invasive group A Streptococcus (group A streptococcal (GAS)) infections admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) of university hospitals of Leuven, Antwerp and Liège, Belgium, January 2022–May 2023
- Participants
- 86 patients · 3 Belgian centres
- Exposure
- Adults vs Children
- Adultsn = 56
- Childrenn = 30
- Outcome
- Severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP)
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP)
Empyema in sCAP
- Viral co-infection in S. pyogenes pneumonia (influenza predominating: 13 adults, 5 children)
- Two-thirds
- Toxic shock syndrome
- 56 (65%)
- emm1 strains among sequenced strains (55 of 86 patients)
- 73%
- M1UK lineage among emm1 strains
- 83%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Other presentations: necrotizing fasciitis; other severe skin/soft tissue infections; ear/nose/throat infections
Necrotizing fasciitis Adults 23%
Other severe skin/soft tissue infections
Ear/nose/throat infections
Cardiogenic shock and organ support
Cardiogenic shock
Invasive mechanical ventilation
RRT
ECMO
Mortality
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →