Definitions

Inclusion criteria

  • Any child aged 1 month-18 years with probable of confirmed iGAS infection

Confirmed iGAS infection

  • Clinical presentation consisent with iGAS AND
  • Isolation of group A streptococcus by culture or PCR or antigen detection test from a normally sterile body site

Probable iGAS infection

  • Clinical presentation consistent with necrotizing fasciitis or STSS AND
  • Isolation of group A streptococcus by culture or PCR or antigen detection test from a non-sterile body site AND
  • No evidence of other pathogen explaining the clinical presentation

Clinical presentation consistent with iGAS

  • Clinically severe illness, such as sepsis, septic shock, STSS, pneumonia, meningitis, arthritis, osteomyelitis, myositis or necrotizing fasciitis

Index visit

  • The visit in which the sample was taken that later turned out positive for group A streptococcus.
  • This is not known at the time of visit.
  • This is not always the first visit in this disease episode.

Comorbidity

  • Simple comorbidity: a chronic underlying condition that is expected to last at least 1 year.
  • Complex comorbidity: comorbidity that affects two or more body system, malignancy or a progressive condition.

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome


Hypotension (systolic blood pressure ≤90 mmHg in adults or <5th percentile for age in children <16 years)


AND


Multiorgan involvement characterized by two or more of the following:

  • Renal impairment – In adults, creatinine ≥2 mg/dL (177 micromol/L); in children, ≥2 times the upper limit of normal for age; in patients with pre-existing renal disease, ≥2 times elevation over baseline

  • Coagulopathy – Platelets ≤100,000/mm3 (100 x 106/L) or disseminated intravascular coagulation, defined by prolonged clotting times, low fibrinogen level, and the presence of fibrin degradation products

  • Liver involvement – Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, or total bilirubin levels ≥2 times the upper limit of normal for the patient’s age; in patients with pre-existing liver disease, ≥2 times elevation over baseline

  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome

  • Erythematous macular rash, may desquamate

  • Soft tissue necrosis (eg, necrotizing fasciitis, myositis, or gangrene)

AND


Isolation of GAS from a normally sterile site (confirmed case) OR

Isolation of GAS from a normally non-sterile site (probable case)