title: Invasive group A streptococcal infection in the Northern Territory, Australia: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: The increasing incidence of invasive group A streptococcus has been well documented in the temperate climates of North America, Europe and the United Kingdom. Studies also suggest that there are high rates of invasive group A streptococcus infection within the indigenous population of Northern Australia. This review article presents the case of infant Aboriginal twins with invasive group A streptococcal infection complicated by streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, highlighting both the severity and high transmissibility of invasive group A streptococcal disease. We review the epidemiology of group A streptococcal infection and suggest a potential role for chemoprophylaxis of household contacts to reduce the burden of disease within the indigenous population of Northern Australia.
authors: The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Bianca
authors: B
authors: Middleton
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Morris
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Carapetis
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D015876:Northern Territory; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014427:Twins
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: chemoprophylaxis; epidemiology; indigenous; streptococcal infection