Group a streptococcal disease in long-term care facilities: descriptive epidemiology and potential control measures

Abstract

Group A streptococci (GAS) are an important cause of severe, life-threatening illness among the elderly population, particularly those individuals residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Outbreaks of GAS infection are potentially devastating in this vulnerable population and often require large-scale control efforts involving LTCF staff, public health officials, and infectious diseases practitioners. Although multiple outbreaks of GAS infection in LTCFs have been described in the medical literature, this topic has not been reviewed for 15 years, and there is a need for updated guidance on how to approach GAS infection outbreak control. We reviewed published documents on GAS infection in LTCFs to describe the current understanding of the disease's epidemiology in this setting, identify techniques for outbreak investigation and prevention, and expose areas where additional research is needed. We highlight well-accepted prevention and control strategies that can be employed during investigation and control of GAS infection outbreaks in LTCFs.