More than 3,000 people in the UK contracted strep A infections between September 2022 and May 2023
A new analysis led by the UK Health and Safety Authority (UKHSA) and Imperial College London (ICL) shows that a variant strain called M1UK plays a key role in the global rise in group A streptococcus (Strep A) infections. It was confirmed that there is.
This research was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the UKRI Medical Research Council and the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Center.
Streptococcus type A, which affected more than 3,000 people in the UK between September 2022 and May 2023, is a common bacterium that can cause invasive infections in rare cases, according to the UKHSA.
During this time, global health organizations recorded a surge in severe invasive Step A infections as pandemic restrictions were lifted.
The M1 strain is known to cause more invasive infections than other types of Streptococcus A and has recently been linked to an increase in serious infections in Europe, Australia, North America, and Japan. It is considered.
In the study, carried out in collaboration with the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit on Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, scientists investigated the genetics of M1UK, providing new insights into its initial emergence and making it easier for others to understand. compared to the stock.
Using a combination of genetic sequencing of samples taken from patients and computer modeling, researchers revealed that M1UK first appeared around 2008 and has made significant progress since 2010.
Analysis shows M1UK’s genetic signature spreads more easily than other strains and causes more severe disease, even as Streptococcus A has declined during the pandemic and population immunity has weakened. It became clear that it was possible.
Researchers suggest that increased herd immunity against the M1UK strain may allow the emergence of other strain types.
Shiranee Sriskandan, clinical director of ICL’s Center for Bacterial Resistance Biology, said: “The spikes seen at different times around the world may be due to reduced immunity to certain respiratory pathogens, particularly Streptococcus A. “Vaccines may help prevent this.” .
