Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease in the US
The deluge of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease reported in many countries following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a poignant reminder of the deadly infections lurking in our midst. In any of its forms, from skin and soft tissue infections, pneumonia, bone and joint infections, or sepsis without a clear clinical focus, invasive GAS can be insidious and unpredictable, testing the lifesaving capacity of even the world’s most advanced medical facilities. Surges of invasive and noninvasive GAS disease in 2022 and 2023 have been reported in countries spanning the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with new reports of the same phenomenon still coming to light.
The deluge of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease reported in many countries following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a poignant reminder of the deadly infections lurking in our midst. In any of its forms, from skin and soft tissue infections, pneumonia, bone and joint infections, or sepsis without a clear clinical focus, invasive GAS can be insidious and unpredictable, testing the lifesaving capacity of even the world’s most advanced medical facilities. Surges of invasive and noninvasive GAS disease in 2022 and 2023 have been reported in countries spanning the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with new reports of the same phenomenon still coming to light.