Group A Streptococcal Invasive Disease in England and Wales

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome: a description of 14 cases from North Yorkshire, UK

“…It may be assumed that such cases have occurred throughout the continent. Early reports in Europe [22,24,33] were associated with transient peaks of invasive S. pyogenes serotype M1 infection and, although strains of this type, together with serotypes M3, M12 and R28, have remained frequent [6,24,36] (as in this report), a variety of other serotypes has also been encountered in patients with TSS in most centers. Isolates of serotypes M1 and M3 very often carry the genes for toxin A [34,35], but SPE gene findings have been variable in strains of other serotypes [8,24,34].…”

“…It is likely that TSS is the counterpart of the malignant and toxic forms of serious streptococcal infection (such as in scarlet fever) that were reported by clinicians in the pre‐antibiotic era [5]. The occurrence of streptococcal TSS in the UK has been noted in case reports and in the recent 3‐year PHLS prospective study of serious S. pyogenes infections [6] but, to date, there has been no specific description of the disease as it occurs in this country. We present an analysis of the clinical and laboratory features of patients diagnosed with streptococcal TSS in North Yorkshire from 1986 to 1999.…”

“…TSS in the UK has been noted in case reports and in the recent 3-year PHLS prospective study of serious S. pyogenes infections [6] but, to date, there has been no specific description of the disease as it occurs in this country. We present an analysis of the clinical and laboratory features of patients diagnosed with streptococcal TSS in North Yorkshire from 1986 to 1999.…”

Quantitative and Qualitative Comparison of Virulence Traits, Including Murine Lethality, among Different M Types of Group A Streptococci

“…3 12.5 ‫ע‬ 0.9 U/mL, respectively) were significantly higher than those in M1 and M3 isolates ( and U/mL, respectively) 6.1 ‫ע‬ 1. 4 2.6 ‫ע‬ 0.4 ( for each combination). Of interest, in M1 isolates, all P !…”

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome: an unusual toxin gene profile

“…The possession of all three genes is not usual in M12 strains but this has been documented [1,6]. To our knowledge, this is the first time that an M12 strain with all three pyrogenic exotoxins has been identified in Portugal.…”