What is Group A Streptococcus?
Group A Streptococci (GAS) are bacteria that are often found in the nose, throat and/or on the skin of healthy people. Many people can carry GAS and not become sick. These individuals are called carriers and are also able to spread the germs to others.
GAS can cause mild sickness, such as a sore (strep) throat, tonsillitis, ear infections, skin infections and scarlet fever can also occur.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms usually start one to three days after being exposed. The bacteria can sometimes get into the lungs, blood or tissues. When this happens, this is called “invasive disease” and can cause severe, life-threatening infections and complications.
Early symptoms may include:
- Sore throat
- Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
- Headache
- Sudden fever
Flesh-eating disease (known as necrotizing fasciitis): Is a quickly progressing infection that affects tissues under the skin. Symptoms include:
- Flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, nausea, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Blisters on the skin
- Painful, red, hot, and swollen areas
- Extreme pain, often rapidly getting worse, often in an arm or leg
- Changes in skin colour
Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome: an infection that can cause organs in the body to stop working properly. Symptoms include:
- Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Quick onset of generalized or localized pain, often in an arm or leg
- A flat red rash over large areas of the body
How is it spread?
People sick with GAS are more likely to spread the infection to others.
It is spread person-to-person by:
- Breathing in the bacteria after a person coughs or sneezes the germs into the air.
- Direct contact with mucus from the nose or throat of a person who is sick with GAS. Such as, kissing, sharing cigarettes or vaping devices, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, or through direct contact with infected sores on the skin.
- It can also be spread by sharing contaminated needles.
Who is most at risk of getting invasive GAS?
People that are at a higher risk for developing an invasive disease are:
- People living with chronic illnesses
- People living with a weakened immune system
- People less than 1 year of age or over 60 years of age
- People who use substances and share needles
- People living in group-settings
Is there treatment?
Early treatment is important to prevent complications. GAS infections are treated with antibiotics. It is important to complete the entire antibiotic treatment as ordered by your health care provider.
How can GAS be prevented?
Frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or the use of hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Tissues should be used for runny noses, to cover coughs, or sneezes. Hands should be washed or sanitized after touching used tissues.
- Coughing or sneezing into your elbow prevents spreading the germs to your hands.
- Covering the mouth when sneezing and coughing followed by hand washing or hand sanitizing can also help to stop the spread of infections.
- Stay up to date with immunizations. People with recent infections (influenza, chickenpox) may be at increased risk for iGAS infections.
- Clean wounds and watch for signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus or pain). If you experience pain out of proportion to an injury or develop a fever, see a healthcare provider immediately.
iGAS Resources for Health Care Providers
- DoPHS Reporting Forms
- Public Health Ontario: Test Information Index
- Ministry of Health (2024). Appendix 1: Case Definitions and Disease-Specific Information Disease: Group A Streptococcal Disease, invasive (iGAS).
- Public Health Agency of Canada (2006). Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease.