Group A Streptococcus (Invasive)
Group A streptococcal (GAS) infections are caused by bacteria. GAS bacteria can cause a variety of different diseases that range in severity from mild illness such as strep throat, scarlet fever and impetigo, to serious invasive infections.
Invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections occur when the bacteria enter the sterile tissues of the body such as the blood stream. Invasive forms of GAS infections include septicemia, pneumonia, toxic shock syndrome and flesh eating disease. In this report only invasive infections with group A strep bacteria are being described.
GAS bacteria are transmitted from person-to-person through respiratory droplets from the nose and throat of infected people. Healthy individuals can develop iGAS infections, but they are more common among people with weakened immune systems. Risk factors for iGAS infection include chronic health conditions such as cancer, diabetes and lung disease; use of medications containing steroids; injection drug use; alcohol misuse and soft tissue damage. While infections can occur throughout the year they are more common in the late winter and spring. Outbreaks of infection are rare, but can occur.
Group A streptococcus (invasive) cases by geographic area
Key findings:
- In the SDHU area, there were 14 confirmed cases of group A streptococcus (invasive) in 2015.
- In 2015, the rate of group A streptococcus (invasive) in the SDHU area was 7 per 100,000 population.
- The rate of group A streptococcus (invasive) in the SDHU area has been similar to the rate in northeastern Ontario, while the rate in both the SDHU area and northeastern Ontario have been slightly higher than that of Ontario for most years.
- Between 2006 and 2015, the rate of group A streptococcus (invasive) in the SDHU area has increased with some fluctuations.
Notes:
- Rates are age-standardized using 2011 Canadian population.
- Data Source: Infectious Diseases Query, Public Health Ontario, Extracted Feb. 2016, and Population Estimates and Projections, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Extracted Sep. 2015.
Figure: Annual age-standardized rate, group A streptococcus (invasive), by geographic area, 2006–2015
Table: Annual age-standardized rate, group A streptococcus (invasive), by geographic area, 2006–2015
| Geographic Region | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDHU | 3.1 | 5.5 | 3.9 | 6.4 | 8.5 | 5.2 | 6.5 | 11.7 | 7.5 | 6.8 |
| Northeast | 2.8 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 7.6 | 6.4 | 8.8 | 5.9 |
| Ontario | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 4.1 |
Table: Annual number of cases of group A streptococcus (invasive), by geographic area, 2006–2015
| Geographic Region | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDHU | 6 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 23 | 15 | 14 |
| Northeast | 16 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 34 | 35 | 44 | 36 | 51 | 33 |
| Ontario | 467 | 505 | 518 | 468 | 561 | 667 | 606 | 619 | 730 | 573 |
Group A streptococcus (invasive) cases by sex
Key findings:
- Between 2011 and 2015, there were a total of 46 males and 30 females diagnosed with group A streptococcus (invasive) in the SDHU area, an average of 9 males and 6 females per year.
- In the SDHU area, the annual rate of group A streptococcus (invasive) between 2011 and 2015 was 9 per 100,000 males and 6 per 100,000 females.
- The rate of group A streptococcus (invasive) among males has been higher than the rate among females.
- Between the time periods 2006–2010 and 2011–2015, the rates of group A streptococcus (invasive) has increased slightly for both males and females in the SDHU area.
Notes:
- Rates are age-standardized using 2011 Canadian population.
- Data Source: Infectious Diseases Query, Public Health Ontario, Extracted Feb. 2016, and Population Estimates and Projections, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Extracted Sep. 2015.
Figure: Age-standardized rate, group A streptococcus (invasive), by sex, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006-2010 and 2011-2015
Table: Age-standardized rate, group A streptococcus (invasive), by sex, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Sex | Rate per 100,000 2006-2010 | Rate per 100,000 2011-2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Males | 6.7 | 9.4 |
| Females | 4.5 | 6 |
Table: Annual number of cases of group A streptococcus (invasive), by sex, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Sex | Total Counts 2006-2010 | Total Counts 2011-2015 | Average Annual Counts 2006-2010 | Average Annual Counts 2011-2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 31 | 46 | 6.2 | 9.2 |
| Females | 23 | 30 | 4.6 | 6.0 |
Group A streptococcus (invasive) cases by age group
Key findings:
- Between 2011 and 2015, the highest number of group A streptococcus (invasive) cases was in the 20 to 44 age group, with a total of 28 cases or an average of 6 per year in the SDHU area.
- In the SDHU area, the highest annual rate of group A streptococcus (invasive) was in the 65-and-over age groups, with 13 cases per 100,000 population between 2011 and 2015.
- The rate of group A streptococcus (invasive) was lowest in the 0 to 19 age groups.
- Between the time periods 2006–2010 and 2011–2015, the rate of group A streptococcus (invasive) has increased for all age groups except for the 0 to 19 age group.
Notes:
- Data Source: Infectious Diseases Query, Public Health Ontario, Extracted Feb. 2016, and Population Estimates and Projections, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Extracted Sep. 2015.
Figure: Group A streptococcus (invasive), by age group, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
Table: Age-standardized rate, group A streptococcus (invasive), by age, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Age Group | Rate per 100,000 2006-2010 | Rate per 100,000 2011-2015 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-19 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| 20-44 | 6.8 | 9 |
| 45-64 | 3.4 | 5.6 |
| 65+ | 7.9 | 12.8 |
Table: Annual number of cases of group A streptococcus (invasive), by age, Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU), 2006–2010 and 2011–2015
| Geographic Region | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDHU | 6 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 17 | 11 | 13 | 23 | 15 | 14 |
| Northeast | 16 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 34 | 35 | 44 | 36 | 51 | 33 |
| Ontario | 467 | 505 | 518 | 468 | 561 | 667 | 606 | 619 | 730 | 573 |
This item was last modified on March 26, 2018