Increased incidence of invasive group A streptococcal disease in Ireland, 2012 to 2013

M Meehan; S Murchan; S Bergin; D O’Flanagan; R Cunney

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES2013.18.33.20556

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Increased incidence of invasive group A streptococcal disease in Ireland, 2012 to 2013
M Meehan¹ , S Murchan² , S Bergin³ , D O’Flanagan² , R Cunney^1,2,3
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Affiliations: ¹ Epidemiology and Molecular Biology Unit and, Irish Meningococcal and Meningitis Reference Laboratory, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland ² Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dublin, Ireland ³ Department of Medical Microbiology, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

Correspondence:
M Meehan
meehanmary yahoo.co.uk
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Citation style for this article: Meehan M, Murchan S, Bergin S, O’Flanagan D, Cunney R. Increased incidence of invasive group A streptococcal disease in Ireland, 2012 to 2013. Euro Surveill. 2013;18(33):pii=20556. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2013.18.33.20556 Received: 06 Aug 2013

Abstract

Invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections have been notifiable in Ireland since 2004. Incidence rates (2004-2011) have ranged from 0.8 to 1.65 per 100,000. In 2012, the iGAS rate rose to 2.66 per 100,000 and was associated with a high proportion of emm1 isolates. A further increase in January to June 2013 has been associated with increased prevalence of emm3. Public health departments and clinicians have been alerted to this increase. .