Research and analysis

HPR volume 13 issue 16: news (10 and 13 May)

Updated 20 December 2019

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Group A streptococcal infections: third report on seasonal activity in summary

Public Health England (PHE) continues to monitor notifications of scarlet fever cases in England following the high levels recorded in the last few years. According to the third report on group A Streptococcus activity for the current 2018/19 season [1], a typical seasonal decline in scarlet fever activity is being reported across England.

The graph below compares the latest surveillance data for both scarlet fever and invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infection with comparable data from previous seasons. As of 9 May 2019, scarlet fever activity for the season is lower than seen in the last few seasons, and iGAS rates above average but within the upper bounds of normal seasonal levels for this time of year.

In the current season to week 18 of 2019:

  • a total of 9,887 scarlet fever notifications had been made, with 247 notifications made in week 18
  • a total of 1,500 iGAS disease notifications had been reported through laboratory surveillance
Weekly scarlet fever and iGAS notifications in England, 2013/14 onwards

Weekly scarlet fever and iGAS notifications in England, 2013/14 onwards

GPs, microbiologists and paediatricians are reminded of the importance of prompt notification of scarlet fever cases and outbreaks to local PHE health protection teams, obtaining throat swabs (prior to commencing antibiotics) when there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, and ensuring exclusion from school or work, until antibiotic treatment has been received for 24 hours [2]. Due to rare but potentially severe complications associated with GAS infections, clinicians and HPTs should continue to be mindful of the recent increases in invasive disease and maintain a high degree of clinical suspicion when assessing patients.

The full report includes information from emm strain diversity testing and antimicrobial susceptibility data [1].

References

  1. Group A streptococcal infections: third report on seasonal activity, 2018 to 2019.
  2. PHE (2017). Interim guidelines for the public health management of scarlet fever outbreaks in schools, nurseries and other childcare settings.

Infection reports in this issue of HPR

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