Group A streptococci outbreak reported in Brisbane hospital, two elderly men die
At least four patients of the Greenslopes Private Hospital in suburban Brisbane were reported infected with group A streptococci, or Streptococcus pyogenes this week. Two of the elderly men infected have died.
According to a hospital press release, at this stage, four patients have tested positive to GAS and these cases have been reported to Queensland Health.
Two patients, a 91 year old gentleman who died of pneumonia and a 95 year old gentleman who died from a blood stream infection were found subsequently to have the streptococci bacteria in their blood streams. The hospital has notified the patients’ next of kin. The other two patients are now being treated.
The Hospital has launched a proactive management program which includes testing all patients and staff in the rehabilitation unit (in which the bacteria has been identified) and contacting patients who have been discharged from the unit since 29 November 2013. Factsheets have been provided to these patients and staff.
The rehabilitation unit is isolated from the rest of the hospital and all admissions to the unit have been suspended at this stage. Patients currently in the unit are being tested and monitored.
Queensland Health has been notified and the hospital is maintaining constant contact with the Communicable Diseases Unit and the Chief Health Officer to ensure all protocols are being followed.
Streptococcus pyogenes, or beta streptococcus group A is a very common pathogenic bacterium in humans. Historically, Streptococcus pyogenes got its notoriety as the cause of puerperal fever, a life-threatening disease that was seen in women after childbirth, until Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that it could be prevented by physicians just washing their hands before each vaginal examination. Today, physicians treat infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes on a daily basis with antibiotics.
Probably the most common disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes is pharyngitis, or strep throat. Strep throat is very common in school-aged children, particularly in the winter and spring months. Untreated strep throat can lead to more serious complications like rheumatic fever; however, this is relatively uncommon.
It is also a cause of several skin infections such as impetigo and cellulitis. Impetigo is a characterized by a crusty lesion frequently found on the mouth area. Cellulitis typically occurs after a wound or burn where the bacteria enters and spread though the skin and lower tissues.
More serious, potentially life-threatening infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes include necrotizing fasciitis (commonly called flesh-eating bacteria) and toxic shock syndrome. In addition, Streptococcus pyogenes can cause scarlet fever, septicemia and pneumonia. The death of Muppets creator Jim Henson was a result of an infection with Streptococcus pyogenes.
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