• Lucy O Attwood and Denis Spelman.
• Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
• Intern Med J. 2021 Apr 1; 51 (4): 565-570.

BackgroundInvasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections are increasing worldwide with at-risk groups being children, pregnant women and the elderly. In 2017, there was a rise in iGAS cases in Victoria, prompting a Chief Health Officer advisory.AimsTo describe the characteristics of patients with GAS bacteraemia admitted to a tertiary hospital. To compare at-risk groups in our population with those identified in the Victorian Government health alert.MethodsRetrospective review of patients with GAS bacteraemia admitted between June 2014 and December 2017 at a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Victoria.ResultsForty-three cases of GAS bacteraemia occurred. Average age was 52 years (range 15-88 years) with 63% male. Average length of stay was 14 days (range 0-72 days) and all-cause mortality occurred in two (5%) cases. Twelve (28%) patients presented with shock, 11 (26%) required intensive care unit admission and 13 (30%) surgical intervention. A history of intravenous drug use was documented in 18 (42%) cases and was commonly complicated by bone or joint involvement or thrombosis. Typing of GAS samples identified 22 different emm-types.ConclusionGAS bacteraemia resulted in significant morbidity and prolonged hospitalisation. In contrast to the at-risk groups identified in the Victorian Government health advisory, the commonest risk group in this series were people who inject drugs and most commonly middle-aged men. Invasive GAS should be considered if a person who injects drugs presents with acute severe sepsis.© 2020 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

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