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. 2022 Nov;28(11):2190-2197.
doi: 10.3201/eid2811.220029.

Invasive Infections Caused by Lancefield Groups C/G and A Streptococcus, Western Australia, Australia, 2000-2018

Cameron M Wright, Rachael Moorin, Glenn Pearson, John Dyer, Jonathan Carapetis, Laurens Manning

Invasive Infections Caused by Lancefield Groups C/G and A Streptococcus, Western Australia, Australia, 2000-2018

Cameron M Wright et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Epidemiologic data on invasive group C/G Streptococcus (iGCGS) infections are sparse internationally. Linked population-level hospital, pathology, and death data were used to describe the disease burden in Western Australia, Australia, during 2000-2018 compared with that of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes) infections. Of 1,270 cases, 866 (68%) occurred in men. Patients with iGCGS infection were older (median age 62 years) than those with invasive GAS (median age 44 years; p<0.0001). The age and sex-adjusted incidence rate ratio by year was 1.08 (95% CI 1.07-1.09). The incidence rate ratio for Indigenous compared with non-Indigenous Australians was 3.6 (95% CI 3.0-4.3). The all-cause 90-day death rate was 9% for iGCGS infection compared with 7% for invasive GAS (p = 0.03). iGCGS infection was more common in men and older persons and had a higher death rate, perhaps reflecting the effect of age and comorbidities on incidence and death.

Keywords: Australia; Group C Streptococcus; Group G Streptococcus; Lancefield groups; Streptococcus; bacteria; infectious diseases; public health.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age-standardized incidence of invasive group A and C/G Streptococcus disease, Western Australia, Australia, 2000–2018. The baseline age distribution is the year 2000. Error bars indicate 95% CI.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age group distribution of invasive group A and C/G Streptococcus disease, Western Australia, Australia, 2000–2018.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Indigenous versus non-Indigenous distribution of invasive group C/G Streptococcus disease, Western Australia, Australia, 2000–2018.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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