Science and Research

Ongoing Excess Hospitalizations for Severe Pediatric Group A Streptococcal Disease in 2023-2024-A Single-Center Report

A Europe-wide outbreak of invasive pediatric group A streptococcal infections (iGAS) began in fall 2022. Here, we report the evolution of GAS hospitalizations in children and adolescents during the second outbreak year in 2023-2024 at a tertiary center in Switzerland. Using prospective monitoring of all in-patient GAS cases below 16 years of age, including those with iGAS, we compared case frequencies and clinical characteristics in three time periods (2013-2020; 2022-2023; 2023-2024). Annual GAS hospitalizations increased from a median of 25 cases (range 11-28) in 2013-2020 to 89 and 63 cases, respectively, in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. iGAS cases evolved similarly (2013-2020, 4 cases (3-8); 2022-2023, 32 cases; 2023-2024, 21 cases). The decline in cases from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024 included all types of GAS organ involvement, except suppurative infections in the head area, which remained largely unchanged (48 vs. 45 cases). Pleural empyema declined from 13 to 7 cases, possibly explained by a poor overlap of the GAS and influenza curves, respectively, in 2023-2024 compared to 2022-2023. These data document the prolongation of the GAS outbreak into its second winter season in 2023-2024.

  • Schöbi, N.
  • Duppenthaler, A.
  • Horn, M.
  • Bartenstein, A.
  • Keitel, K.
  • Kopp, M. V.
  • Agyeman, P. K. A.
  • Aebi, C.

Keywords

  • Streptococcus pyogenes
  • child
  • iGAS
  • influenza
  • invasive group A streptococcus
  • outbreak
Publication details
DOI: 10.3390/idr16050067
Journal: Infect Dis Rep
Pages: 864-869 
Number: 5
Work Type: Original
Location: ARCN
Disease Area: PALI
Partner / Member: UzL
Access-Number: 39311208

DZL Engagements

chevron-down