Substantially elevated GAS incidence rates seen in people experiencing homelessness, people who inject drugs, long-term care facility residents
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, April 11, 2025 (HealthDay News) — During 2013 to 2022, there was an increase in invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections in 10 states, according to a study published online April 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Christopher J. Gregory, M.D., M.P.H., from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues updated trends in invasive GAS disease incidence rates in 10 U.S. states between 2013 and 2022 using data collected as part of population-based surveillance in the Active Bacterial Core surveillance network covering 34.9 million persons.
The researchers identified 21,312 cases of invasive GAS (57.5 percent in male individuals) from 2013 through 2022, including 1,981 deaths, in 10 U.S. states. Among case patients, 6.0, 63.7, and 30.4 percent were aged 0 to 17, 18 to 64, and 65 years or older, respectively. There was an increase seen in incidence from 3.6 to 8.2 per 100,000 persons from 2013 to 2022. The highest incidence was seen among persons aged 65 years or older; over time, the relative increase was greatest among adults aged 18 to 64 years (3.2 to 8.7 per 100,000 persons). Higher incidence was seen in American Indian or Alaska Native persons than in other racial and ethnic groups. Substantially elevated GAS incidence rates were seen for people experiencing homelessness, people who inject drugs, and residents of long-term care facilities. Among tested isolates, there was an increase in those nonsusceptible to macrolides and clindamycin from 2013 to 2022 (12.7 to 33.1 percent).
“The increasing invasive GAS burden, particularly among groups that have been economically and socially marginalized, requires urgent attention,” the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
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