Epidemiology and prevention of group A streptococcal infections: Acute respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and their sequelae at the closeof the twentieth century
Jr. Carapetis et al., Epidemiology and prevention of group A streptococcal infections: Acute respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and their sequelae at the closeof the twentieth century, CLIN INF D, 28(2), 1999, pp. 205-210
Infections of the upper respiratory tract and skin due to group A Streptoco
ccus are common, and the organism is highly transmissible. In industrialize
d countries and to some extent in developing countries, control efforts con
tinue to emphasize that group A streptococcal pharyngitis should be properl
y diagnosed and appropriately treated. In developing countries and in indig
enous populations where the burden of group A streptococcal diseases appear
s greatest, the epidemiology is less completely defined and may differ from
that in industrialized countries. There is a need for accurately collected
epidemiological data from developing countries, which may also further cla
rify the pathogenesis of group A streptococcal infections and their sequela
e. While proper treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis continues to
be essential in all populations, it may be appropriate in developing count
ries to consider additional strategies to reduce rates of pyoderma.