title: Community-acquired invasive group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections in Zuni Indians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Outbreaks of invasive group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABS) infections have recently been reported. We observed a high incidence of invasive GABS disease among Native Americans at a small rural community hospital between 1982 and 1991.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed, and all cases of invasive GABS disease were studied for their clinical features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen cases of invasive GABS infection were identified during the 10-year study period. The rate of invasive GABS infection was 13.3 cases per 100,000 population per year. Mortality was 25%. Nearly half of the patients presented with systemic signs of sepsis without any obvious source of infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience documents a high rate of invasive GABS infections in a defined Native American population. To determine whether this population has a unique susceptibility to GABS disease requires further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Public Health Service Indian Hospital, Zuni, NM 87327.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gershman
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000208:ethnology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*