Abstract
The geographic and year-year heterogeneity of group A streptococcal (GAS) genotypes (emm types) of isolates causing acute pediatric pharyngitis in North America have been poorly characterized. We established a network of 10 U.S. and 3 Canadian sites to collect isolates from children 3-18 years old with acute streptococcal pharyngitis. Collection began in 2000-2001, and the fifth year of collection was completed in May 2005. Multiple GAS types circulated simultaneously within each study site. Each year the 3 most prevalent emm types in the U.S. or Canada comprised 42-49% of all isolates nationally. The 6 most prevalent types each year consistently comprised 70-77% of isolates. Analysis of data from individual sites demonstrated considerable (in some instances striking) geographic variability as well as year-year variability. Differences were identified between the distribution of emm types from U.S. and Canadian sites. Continued pharyngeal emm type surveillance will be needed as multivalent M protein vaccine development proceeds.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 30-33 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | International Congress Series |
Volume | 1289 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2006 |
Funding
This work was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (3RO1-A1010085-42S1), IDBiomedical Corporation, and Children's Memorial Research Center.
Keywords
- Group A streptococcus
- Molecular epidemiology
- Surveillance
- emm type
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine