Strep A: GPs are put on alert as cases and deaths rise

Guidance from the UKHSA says, “Clinicians and health protection teams should continue to be mindful of potential increases in invasive disease and maintain a high degree of clinical suspicion when assessing patients, particularly those with preceding viral infection (including chickenpox) or close contacts of scarlet fever.” A letter to GPs from UKHSA said, “Given the unusually high level of GAS [group A streptococcal infections], and viral co-circulation in the community, healthcare professionals are asked to have a low threshold to consider and empirically prescribe antibiotics to children presenting with features of GAS infection, including where secondary to viral respiratory illness.” The rate of notifications of invasive group A streptococcal infection is following a similar but less pronounced increase, with weekly incidence trending slightly above what would be expected at this point in the season.