Group A Strep Disease

Group A Streptococcus is a bacterium that can cause a wide range of infections. People may also carry group A streptococci in the throat or on the skin and have no symptoms of illness. Most group A strep infections are relatively mild illnesses such as strep throat, or impetigo. Occasionally these bacteria can cause severe and even life-threatening diseases. These bacteria are spread through direct contact with mucus from the nose or throat of people who are sick with a group A strep infection or through contact with infected wounds or sores on the skin. The bacteria may also be spread through contract with persons without symptoms but who carry the bacteria in their throat or on their skin. Ill persons, such as those who have strep throat …show more content…
These infections are called "invasive group A strep disease. Two of the most severe, but least common, forms of invasive group A strep disease are necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). Necrotizing fasciitis rapidly destroys muscles, fat, and skin tissue. STSS causes blood pressure to drop rapidly and organs (e.g., kidney, liver, lungs) to fail. STSS is not the same as the staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome that has been associated with tampon usage. Less severe invasive illnesses caused by group A strep include cellulitis and pneumonia. In the U.S, about 25% of patients with necrotizing fasciitis due to group A strep and approximately 40% with STSS die. About 10%-15% of patients with any form of invasive group A streptococcal disease …show more content…
Early signs and symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include, severe pain and swelling, often rapidly increasing, fever, and redness at a wound site. Early signs and symptoms of STSS include, sudden onset of generalized or localized severe pain, often in an arm or leg, dizziness, flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. A flat red rash over large areas of the body (only occurs in 1 in 10 cases). How is invasive group A streptococcal disease treated? Group A strep infections can be treated with many different antibiotics. For STSS and necrotizing fasciitis, high dose penicillin and clindamycin are recommended. For those with very severe illness, supportive care in an intensive care unit may also be needed. For people with necrotizing fasciitis, early and aggressive surgery is often needed to remove damaged tissue and stop disease spread. Early treatment may reduce the risk of death from invasive group A streptococcal disease. However, even the best medical care does not prevent death in every