I. IDENTIFICATION

 A. CLINICAL DESCRIPTION: Invasive group A streptococcal infections may manifest as many different syndromes, including pneumonia, bacteremia in association with cutaneous infection (e.g. cellulitis, infection of a surgical or non-surgical wound), deep soft-tissue infection (e.g. necrotizing fasciitis or myositis), meningitis, peritonitis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, postpartum sepsis, (i.e. puerperal fever), neonatal sepsis, and nonfocal bacteremia.

B. REPORTING CRITERIA: Laboratory confirmation.

C. LABORATORY CRITERIA FOR CONFIRMATION:

• Isolation of group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) by culture from a normally sterile site (e.g., blood or cerebrospinal fluid, or joint, pleural or pericardial fluid).

 D. WISCONSIN CASE DEFINITION: A case that is laboratory confirmed.

II. ACTIONS REQUIRED / PREVENTION MEASURES

A. WISCONSIN DISEASE SURVEILLANCE CATEGORY II: REPORT TO THE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICER within 72 hours of identification of a case or suspected case.

B. EPIDEMIOLOGY REPORTS REQUESTED

• Acute and Communicable Disease Case Report (DPH 4151)

C. PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS:

• Immediate treatment is recommended.
• Notifiable at national level.

III. CONTACTS FOR CONSULTATION

A. BCDP / COMMUNICABLE DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY SECTION: (608) 261-6955.

B. REGIONAL STAFF: See Epinet Introduction: “REGIONAL OFFICE CONTACTS”.

C. WSLH / BACTERIOLOGY: (608) 263-3421.

IV. RELATED REFERENCES

1. Heymann DL, ed. STREPTOCOCCAL DISEASES CAUSED BY GROUP A (BETA HEMOLYTIC) STREPTOCOCCI. In: Control of Communicable Diseases Manual. 18 th ed. Washington , DC : American Public Health Association, 2004:507-514

2. Pickering LK, ed. Group A Streptococcal Infections. In: Red Book: 2003 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 26 th ed. Elk Grove Village , IL : American Academy of Pediatrics, 2003:573-584.

V. DISEASE TRENDS