Increasing incidence of invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) outbreaks in England 2015-2019

Iona Smith; Elizabeth Marchant; Juliana Coelho; Megan Bardsley; Amanda Wright; Nicola Love; Sooria Balasegaram; Colin S. Brown; Dan Todkill; Theresa Lamagni; Valérie Decraene

doi:10.1017/S0950268825000226

Increasing incidence of invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) outbreaks in England 2015-2019

Iona Smith^*, Elizabeth Marchant, Juliana Coelho, Megan Bardsley, Amanda Wright, Nicola Love, Sooria Balasegaram, Colin S. Brown, Dan Todkill, Theresa Lamagni, Valérie Decraene

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Early detection and active management of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection outbreaks are essential. Here, we describe the changing epidemiology of outbreaks of iGAS in England between 2015 and 2019, a period of increasing incidence of iGAS infection. Data on iGAS infections were extracted from national public health management records and laboratory records. Outbreaks were described in size, duration, setting, and emm type. Overall, 194 outbreaks were identified, and reports increased each year, from 16 outbreaks in 2015 to 61 in 2019. The median outbreak size was 3 cases (n = 37; 19%), with 27% of outbreaks recording 4-10 cases (n = 53) and 7% recording more than 10 cases (n=13). Outbreak duration ranged from 0 to 170 weeks (median 7). Settings of outbreaks changed over the study period, with increasing numbers observed in multiple settings. This study provides new insights into the changing burden of iGAS infection and outbreaks in England.

Original language	English
Article number	e70
Journal	Epidemiology and Infection
Volume	153
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268825000226
Publication status	Published - 12 Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Crown Copyright - UK Health Security Agency, 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

Keywords

England
iGAS outbreaks
invasive group A streptococcal outbreaks
surveillance

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1017/S0950268825000226

Cite this

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title = "Increasing incidence of invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) outbreaks in England 2015-2019",

abstract = "Early detection and active management of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection outbreaks are essential. Here, we describe the changing epidemiology of outbreaks of iGAS in England between 2015 and 2019, a period of increasing incidence of iGAS infection. Data on iGAS infections were extracted from national public health management records and laboratory records. Outbreaks were described in size, duration, setting, and emm type. Overall, 194 outbreaks were identified, and reports increased each year, from 16 outbreaks in 2015 to 61 in 2019. The median outbreak size was 3 cases (n = 37; 19\%), with 27\% of outbreaks recording 4-10 cases (n = 53) and 7\% recording more than 10 cases (n=13). Outbreak duration ranged from 0 to 170 weeks (median 7). Settings of outbreaks changed over the study period, with increasing numbers observed in multiple settings. This study provides new insights into the changing burden of iGAS infection and outbreaks in England.",

keywords = "England, iGAS outbreaks, invasive group A streptococcal outbreaks, surveillance",

author = "Iona Smith and Elizabeth Marchant and Juliana Coelho and Megan Bardsley and Amanda Wright and Nicola Love and Sooria Balasegaram and Brown, \{Colin S.\} and Dan Todkill and Theresa Lamagni and Val{\'e}rie Decraene",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Crown Copyright - UK Health Security Agency, 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1017/S0950268825000226",

language = "English",

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AU - Smith, Iona

AU - Marchant, Elizabeth

AU - Coelho, Juliana

AU - Bardsley, Megan

AU - Wright, Amanda

AU - Love, Nicola

AU - Balasegaram, Sooria

AU - Brown, Colin S.

AU - Todkill, Dan

AU - Lamagni, Theresa

AU - Decraene, Valérie

PY - 2025/3/12

Y1 - 2025/3/12

N2 - Early detection and active management of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection outbreaks are essential. Here, we describe the changing epidemiology of outbreaks of iGAS in England between 2015 and 2019, a period of increasing incidence of iGAS infection. Data on iGAS infections were extracted from national public health management records and laboratory records. Outbreaks were described in size, duration, setting, and emm type. Overall, 194 outbreaks were identified, and reports increased each year, from 16 outbreaks in 2015 to 61 in 2019. The median outbreak size was 3 cases (n = 37; 19%), with 27% of outbreaks recording 4-10 cases (n = 53) and 7% recording more than 10 cases (n=13). Outbreak duration ranged from 0 to 170 weeks (median 7). Settings of outbreaks changed over the study period, with increasing numbers observed in multiple settings. This study provides new insights into the changing burden of iGAS infection and outbreaks in England.

AB - Early detection and active management of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection outbreaks are essential. Here, we describe the changing epidemiology of outbreaks of iGAS in England between 2015 and 2019, a period of increasing incidence of iGAS infection. Data on iGAS infections were extracted from national public health management records and laboratory records. Outbreaks were described in size, duration, setting, and emm type. Overall, 194 outbreaks were identified, and reports increased each year, from 16 outbreaks in 2015 to 61 in 2019. The median outbreak size was 3 cases (n = 37; 19%), with 27% of outbreaks recording 4-10 cases (n = 53) and 7% recording more than 10 cases (n=13). Outbreak duration ranged from 0 to 170 weeks (median 7). Settings of outbreaks changed over the study period, with increasing numbers observed in multiple settings. This study provides new insights into the changing burden of iGAS infection and outbreaks in England.

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KW - surveillance

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SN - 0950-2688

VL - 153

JO - Epidemiology and Infection

JF - Epidemiology and Infection

M1 - e70

ER -

Increasing incidence of invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) outbreaks in England 2015-2019

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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