title: Prospective surveillance of invasive group a streptococcal disease, Fiji, 2005-2007.
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 identified 64 cases of invasive GAS disease, which represents an average annualized all-ages incidence of 9.9 cases/100,000 population per year (95% confidence 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-five 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Steer
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jenney
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kado
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Batzloff
authors.forename: Lepani
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Waqatakirewa
authors.forename: E Kim
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Mullholland
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Carapetis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005367:Fiji / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents