The number of cases of group A streptococci (gas) has been increasing over the past decade. Bacteria can cause a range of diseases that span from mild to fatal. In addition, as some strains become more and more resistant to antibiotics.
Scattered on a plate
According to the United States published in 2013-2022, invasive streptococci infections in the United States have increased. Journal of the American Medical Association. This jump occurs after 17 years of stability in the number of cases. The study said, “The incidence rate is particularly high among these over 65 years of age, American Indian or Alaska Natives, residents of long-term care facilities, homeless people and people injected with drugs.”
The study identified more than 21,000 gas cases in 10 states over nine years, including nearly 2,000 deaths. Between 2013 and 2022, the incidence of bacteria increased from 3.6 per 100,000 people to 8.2, and the number of cases increased from 1,082 to 2,759 per year. “When you see a large number of deaths, you can infer deaths across the country – we can cause more than 10,000 deaths,” said Victor Nizet, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. NBC News.
subscription One week
Escape from your echo chamber. Analyze from the facts behind the news and from multiple perspectives.
Subscribe and save
Sign up for this week’s free newsletter
From our morning news briefings to weekly good news newsletters, deliver the best week of the week directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefings to weekly good news newsletters, deliver the best week of the week directly to your inbox.
Streptococcus Infect Often associated with streptococcal throat, this infection is relatively mild and can cause sore throat, fever and swelling of lymph nodes. However, the prognosis of Streptococcus A can also be worse, including sepsis, toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis, a dietary bacterial infection. “Not all Streptococcus A are the same,” said Robert Frenck, PhD, director of the Center for Vaccine Research at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and chair of the Infectious Diseases Division of the American Academy of Pediatrics. time. Frank added that there are several different types of gases, “different types cycle at different times.” “You can go for years without some type of circulating, and then all of a sudden, they’ll come back.”
Harder to defeat
Although researchers are still studying whether bacteria are developing and becoming more severe, the possible cause of increased infection is preexisting disease. Adults over the age of 65, especially those in long-term care facilities, homeless people or part of IV drug users, are most at risk. “All of these people may have weaker immune systems or are more prone to skin sores or lesions, which are the main risk factors for invasive streptococci,” Time said. “Potential health conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease can also increase the risk that common streptococci infections may become invasive.”
The increase in gas has attracted attention as bacteria seem to become increasingly resistant to treatment. Joshua Osowicki, a researcher at the Royal Children’s Hospital of Melbourne, can be insidious and unpredictable in any form, testing the life-saving capabilities of the world’s most advanced medical facilities. ” editorial Published with the research.
Antibiotics are used to treat streptococcal infections, but new gas diversity may lead to Antibiotic resistance. Penicillin is most commonly used to treat streptococci, but other antibiotics, including macrolides and clindamycin, can be used in more severe cases. Recent studies have found that gases are becoming increasingly resistant to these supplementary antibiotics. There is also no vaccine for natural gas. “In the past, any number of antibiotics could have been very effective in treating strep infections,” said Dr. William Schaffner, co-author of the new study. “Now, we have to be more careful; you have to know that the antibiotic profile of strep bacteria is circulating around the neck of the woods.”