Rev Esp Quimioter 2024; 37(6): 454-471
Invasive group A Streptococcus infection (Streptococcus pyogenes): Current situation in Spain
MARI CRUZ MARTÍN-DELGADO, PILAR DE LUCAS RAMOS, ALEJANDRA GARCÍA-BOTELLA, RAFAEL CANTÓN, ALBERTO GARCÍA-LLEDÓ, TERESA HERNÁNDEZ-SAMPELAYO, JAVIER GÓMEZ-PAVÓN, JUAN GONZÁLEZ DEL CASTILLO, FRANCISCO JAVIER MARTÍN SÁNCHEZ, MANUEL MARTÍNEZ-SELLÉS, JOSÉ MARÍA MOLERO GARCÍA, SANTIAGO MORENO GUILLÉN, FERNANDO RODRÍGUEZ-ARTALEJO, JULIÁN RUIZ-GALIANA, ALMUDENA BURILLO, PATRICIA MUÑOZ, CRISTINA CALVO REY, MERCEDES CATALÁN-GONZÁLEZ, EMILIO CENDEJAS-BUENO, ANA VERÓNICA HALPERIN-BENITO, RAÚL RECIO, CARMEN VIÑUELA-BENÍTEZ, EMILIO BOUZA
Published: 30 July 2024
http://www.doi.org/10.37201/req/067.2024
Group A ß-hemolytic Streptococcus (S. pyogenes), also known as GAS, is a Gram-positive bacterium. It can be easily identified in the microbiology laboratory by its ability to hemolyse blood in culture media. This bacterium is highly virulent due to its production of enzymes and toxins, and its ability to cause immunologically mediated diseases such as rheumatic fever and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
GAS is the primary cause of bacterial pharyngotonsillitis, although it is typically a benign and non-invasive disease. However, it also has the potential to cause severe skin and soft tissue infections, necrotising fasciitis, bacteraemia and endocarditis, pneumonia and empyema, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, without any age or predisposition limits. The term invasive GAS disease (iGAS) is used to refer to this group of conditions.
In more developed countries, iGAS disease has declined thanks to improved hygiene and the availability of antibiotics. For example, rheumatic fever has practically disappeared in countries such as Spain. However, recent data suggests a potential increase in some iGAS diseases, although the accuracy of this data is not consistent.
Because of this, the COVID and Emerging Pathogens Committee of the Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Madrid (ICOMEM) has posed several questions about invasive GAS infection, especially its current situation in Spain. The committee has enlisted the help of several experts in the field to answer these questions. The following lines contain the answers that we have collaboratively produced, aiming to assist not only the members of ICOMEM but also anyone interested in this topic.
Rev Esp Quimioter 2024; 37(6): 454-471 [Full-text PDF]
