Outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes infection in healthcare workers in a paediatric intensive care unit: transmission from a single patient

Abstract

A 15-h stay in a paediatric intensive care unit by a girl with generalized dermal lesions superinfected with Streptococcus pyogenes led to four streptococcal infections in healthcare workers. Phenotypic and molecular analyses of the strains revealed that four isolates, characterized as emm87/ST62/T28, were identical to the isolate obtained from the index case. The occurrence of this outbreak, despite of the girl's brief hospital stay and appropriate patient management, highlights the high transmissibility of this pathogen.

Changes in emm types and superantigen gene content of Streptococcus pyogenes causing invasive infections in Portugal

“…The prevalence of emm 87 has been gradually increasing among iGAS in Portugal, with no apparent new lineage emerging in recent years when considering SAg profiles, which remained the same (mostly SAg20). Isolates of emm 87 have been associated with familial and hospital clusters of iGAS and proposed to be highly transmissible 32,33 , but have not been specifically associated with iGAS when compared with contemporary non-invasive isolates 18,34 .…”

Typing ofStreptococcus pyogenesstrains using the phage profiling method

“…Every year GAS is responsible for over 600 million infections and half a million deaths worldwide, as a result of infections and postinfectional sequelae 2 . S. pyogenes often causes seasonal outbreaks 3 , 4 and is responsible for infections in hospitals 5 , 6 and long-term care facilities 7 …”