Prospective surveillance of invasive group A streptococcal disease, Fiji, 2005--2007

Type Journal Article - Emerging infectious diseases
Title Prospective surveillance of invasive group A streptococcal disease, Fiji, 2005--2007
Author(s)
Volume 15
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2009
Page numbers 216
URL http://espace.cdu.edu.au/view/cdu:8448/Carapetis_8448.pdf
Abstract
We undertook a prospective active surveillance study of invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease in Fiji over a 23-month period, 2005–2007. We identifi ed 64 cases of invasive GAS disease, which represents an average annualized all-ages incidence of 9.9 cases/100,000 population per year (95% confi dence interval [CI] 7.6–12.6). Rates were highest in those >65 years of age and in those <5 years, particularly in infants, for whom the incidence was 44.9/100,000 (95% CI 18.1–92.5). The case-fatality rate was 32% and was associated with increasing age and underlying coexisting disease, including diabetes and renal disease. Fifty-fi ve of the GAS isolates underwent emm sequence typing; the types were highly diverse, with 38 different emm subtypes and no particular dominant type. Our data support the view that invasive GAS disease is common in developing countries and deserves increased public health attention.

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