%0 Journal Article
%A Martín Delgado, Mari Cruz
%A Lucas Ramos, Pilar De
%A García Botella, Alejandra María
%A Cantón Moreno, Rafael María
%A García Lledó, Alberto
%A Hernández-Sampelayo Matos, Teresa
%A Gómez Pavón, Javier
%A González Del Castillo, Juan María
%A Martín Sánchez, Francisco Javier
%A Martínez-Sellés D Oliveira Soares, Manuel
%A Molero García, José María
%A Moreno Guillén, Santiago
%A Rodríguez Artalejo, Fernando
%A Ruiz Galiana, Julián
%A Burillo Albizua, Almudena
%A Muñoz García, Patricia Carmen
%A Calvo Rey, Cristina
%A Catalán González, María De Las Mercedes
%A Cendejas Bueno, Emilio
%A Halperin Benito, Ana Verónica
%A Recio, Raúl
%A Viñuela Benítez, Carmen
%A Bouza Santiago, Emilio
%T Invasive group A Streptococcus infection (Streptococcus pyogenes): Current situation in Spain
%D 2024
%@ 0214-3429
%@ 1988-9518
%U https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130157
%X Group A ß-hemolytic Streptococcus (S. pyogenes), also known as GAS, is a Gram-positive bacterium. It can be easily identified in the microbiology laboratory by its ability to hemolyse blood in culture media. This bacterium is highly virulent due to its production of enzymes and toxins, and its ability to cause immunologically mediated diseases such as rheumatic fever and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. GAS is the primary cause of bacterial pharyngotonsillitis, although it is typically a benign and non-invasive disease. However, it also has the potential to cause severe skin and soft tissue infections, necrotising fasciitis, bacteraemia and endocarditis, pneumonia and empyema, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, without any age or predisposition limits. The term invasive GAS disease (iGAS) is used to refer to this group of conditions. In more developed countries, iGAS disease has declined thanks to improved hygiene and the availability of antibiotics. For example, rheumatic fever has practically disappeared in countries such as Spain. However, recent data suggests a potential increase in some iGAS diseases, although the accuracy of this data is not consistent. Because of this, the COVID and Emerging Pathogens Committee of the Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Madrid (ICOMEM) has posed several questions about invasive GAS infection, especially its current situation in Spain. The committee has enlisted the help of several experts in the field to answer these questions. The following lines contain the answers that we have collaboratively produced, aiming to assist not only the members of ICOMEM but also anyone interested in this topic.
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