Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease in Alberta, Canada (2000 to 2002)

Abstract

Invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) disease was placed under surveillance in Alberta in August 1999. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence rates of iGAS infections throughout Alberta over a 3-year period (2000 to 2002) and to better understand the epidemiology of iGAS in this province. There were a total of 441 cases of invasive GAS disease over the 3 years examined (average population over 3

SevereStreptococcus pyogenesInfections, United Kingdom, 2003–2004

“…However, our fi nding was consistent with those in studies in other countries (11,13,17,19,21,22). The case-fatality rate in our study (32% within 7 days of initial diagnosis) was substantially higher than that expected with community-acquired pneumonia (23).…”

“…The >3,700 cases diagnosed in 2003-2004 resulted in a rate of 3.33/100,000 population for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man. This rate was similar to rates reported for other European countries and the United States in the early 2000s (1,9,10), although lower than some estimates from Canada (11)(12)(13). In the 2-year study period, the overall rate of severe S. pyogenes infections decreased from 3.53/100,000 to 3.12/100,000.…”

Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of SevereStreptococcus pyogenesDisease in Europe

“…In Finland, 45% of all isolates were emm28, and Finland was the only country with such a large proportion of a single type. Isolates of emm3, in addition to those of emm1, have previously been shown to play a major role in invasive GAS disease (19,45,46). However, in Finland, the number of emm3 isolates was negligible (three cases); and a low prevalence of this type was also noted in Greece, the Czech Republic, and Sweden (3 to 4%).…”

Prospective Surveillance of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease, Fiji, 2005–2007

“…data), and high rates of GAS skin disease have been found in Pacifi c Islanders in other parts of the world, including in Maoris and other Polynesians in New Zealand (21,22). In most industrialized countries, the annual incidence of invasive GAS disease is 2.5-3.5/100,000 population (8,23), and the case-fatality rate is 7%-15% (6,8,(23)(24)(25)(26). Although some epidemiologic similarities were found between invasive GAS disease in these countries and in Fiji, such as the high rates for elderly persons with coexisting medical conditions, as well as in the clinical spectrum of disease, major differences stand out.…”