Journal of Infection
Volume 64, Issue 2 , Pages 156-161 , February 2012

Control measures for invasive group A streptococci (iGAS) outbreaks in care homes

  • A. Cummins

      Affiliations

    • Essex Health Protection Unit, 8 Collingwood Road, Witham, Essex CM8 2TT, UK
    • ,
  • S. Millership

      Affiliations

    • Essex Health Protection Unit, 8 Collingwood Road, Witham, Essex CM8 2TT, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44 1376 302283; fax: +44 1376 302278.
    • ,
  • T. Lamagni

      Affiliations

    • Healthcare-Associated Infection & Antimicrobial Resistance Department, Health Protection Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK
    • ,
  • K. Foster

      Affiliations

    • North East Health Protection Unit, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4WH, UK

,Accepted 17 November 2011.

References 

  1. Lamagni TL, Efstratiou A, Vuopio-Varkila J, Jasir A, Schalen C. Streptococcus pyogenes associated disease in Europe. Eurosurveillance. 2005;10(9):pii=5632
  2. Rainbow J, Jewell B, Danilla RN, Boxrud D, Beall B, Van Beneden C, et al. Invasive group A streptococcal disease in nursing homes, Minnesota, 1995–2006. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;14:772–778
  3. Thigpen MC, Thomas M, Gloss D, Park SY, Khan AJ, Fogelman VL, et al. Nursing home outbreak of invasive group A streptococcal infections caused by 2 distinct strains. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007;28:68–74
  4. Auerbach SB, Schwartz B, Williams D, Fiorelli MG, Adimora AA, Breiman RF, et al. Outbreak of invasive group A streptococcal infections in a nursing home. Arch Intern Med. 1992;152:1017–1022
  5. Health Protection Agency Group A Streptococcus Working Group . Interim UK guidelines for management of close community contacts of invasive group A streptococcal disease. Commun Dis Public Health. 2004;7:354–361Accessed at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1229673231242
  6. Greene CM, Van Beneden CA, Javadi M, Skoff TH, Beall B, Facklam R, et al. Cluster of deaths from group A streptococcus in a long-term care facility – Georgia, 2001. Am J Infect Control. 2005;33:108–113
  7. Smith A, Tolomeo O, Tyrell GJ, Jamieson F, Fisman D. Mass antibiotic treatment for group A streptococcal outbreaks in two long-term care facilities. Emerg Infect Dis. 2003;10:1260–1265
  8. Arnold KE, Schweitzer JL, Wallace B, Salter M, Neeman R, Hlady WG, et al. Tightly clustered outbreak of group A streptococcal disease at a long-term care facility. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006;27:1377–1384
  9. Barnham M, Hunter S, Hanratty B, Kirby P, Tanna A, Efstratiou A. Invasive M-type 3 Streptococcus pyogenes affecting a family and a residential home. Commun Dis Public Health. 2001;4:64–67
  10. Epidemiologic notes and reports nursing home outbreaks of invasive Group A streptococcal infections – Illinois; Kansas; North Caroline and Texas. MMWR. 1990;39:577–579
  11. Schwartz B, Elliott JA, Butler JC, Simon PA, Jameson BL, Welch GE, et al. Clusters of invasive group A streptococcal infections in family, hospital and nursing home settings. Clin Infect Dis. 1992;15:277–284
  12. Ruben FL, Norden CW, Heisler B, Korica Y. An outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes infections in a nursing home. Ann Intern Med. 1984;101:494–496
  13. Sarangi J, Rowsell R. A nursing home outbreak of Group A streptococcal infection: case control study of environmental contamination. J Hosp Infect. 1995;30:162–164
  14. Statutory Instruments No 659 2010 public health (England) the public health (Notification) Regulations. Accessed at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/659/pdfs/uksi_20100659_en.pdf2010.
  15. Health Protection Agency; GAS Guideline Development Working Group. Guidelines for the investigation; control and prevention of spread of Group A streptococcal (GAS) infection in acute healthcare settings in the United Kingdom. Accessed at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/12720326997662010.
  16. Ditchburn R, Ditchburn J. Rate of carriage of group A beta haemolytic streptococci. BMJ. 1995;311:193
  17. Spitzer J, Hennessy E, Neville L. High group A streptococcal carriage in the Orthodox Jewish community of north Hackney. Br J Gen Pract. 2001;51:101–105
  18. Hoffmann S. The throat carrier rate of group A and other beta hemolytic streptococci among patients in general practice. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand B. 1985;93:347–351
  19. Strömberg A, Schwan A, Cars O. Throat carrier rates of beta-hemolytic streptococci among healthy adults and children. Scand J Infect Dis. 1988;20:411–417

PII: S0163-4453(11)00567-6

doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2011.11.017

Journal of Infection
Volume 64, Issue 2 , Pages 156-161 , February 2012

Article Tools