New Study Reveals Alarming Rise In Deadly Strep Infections Across The US (Image Credits: iStock)
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that severe and potentially fatal strep infections are dramatically increasing in the United States. Researchers report that invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections—caused when strep bacteria spread beyond the throat and skin to critical areas such as the lungs or bloodstream—have more than doubled between 2013 and 2022.
According to data tracked by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incidence rate of iGAS rose from 4 cases per 100,000 people in 2013 to 8 per 100,000 in 2022. The findings, first reported by NBC News, show that these infections have progressed from being relatively rare to posing a nationwide public health concern.
Unlike typical strep throat, invasive strep infections can result in life-threatening conditions such as necrotizing fasciitis—commonly referred to as flesh-eating disease—and toxic shock syndrome. These complications can cause rapid deterioration in a patient’s health.
“Within 24 to 48 hours, you could have very, very rapid deterioration,” said Dr Victor Nizet, a professor of paediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. “It can start off seeming like a routine flu-like illness, but very quickly progress to a medical emergency requiring intensive care.”
The CDC’s analysis spanned 10 states with a combined population of around 35 million. In 2013, there were 1,082 reported cases. By 2022, that number had surged to 2,759. Over the decade, more than 21,000 cases of iGAS were recorded, resulting in nearly 2,000 deaths. Dr Nizet noted that when extrapolated to the entire U.S. population, the death toll could exceed 10,000.
Dr Christopher Gregory, a CDC researcher and co-author of the study, emphasized that the threat of invasive strep is no longer limited to traditionally high-risk groups—it’s becoming a broader concern across the general population.
Several factors may be contributing to the surge. First, the increasing prevalence of chronic health conditions like diabetes and obesity, which can weaken the immune system, may make people more susceptible to severe infections. In addition, rising infection rates among people who inject drugs or experience homelessness are contributing to the trend. In 2022, the infection rate among the homeless population soared to 807 per 100,000—one of the highest rates ever recorded worldwide.
Gregory pointed out that the nature of the bacteria is also evolving. New strains are causing more skin infections instead of the usual sore throats, and some are becoming resistant to commonly used antibiotics such as macrolides and clindamycin.
The data revealed that adults aged 65 and older were most affected, though all adult age groups saw rising infection rates. Interestingly, the study did not find a significant increase in cases among children, which some experts found surprising.
“That was, to me, the most shocking part of the study,” said Dr Allison Eckard, division chief for pediatric infectious diseases at the Medical University of South Carolina. “Because clinically, we really are seeing what feels like an increase,” Eckard added that healthcare providers are encountering more severe and unusual pediatric cases, including a higher frequency of necrotizing fasciitis.
Experts agree that more research is needed to understand why these infections are rising and whether the changing strep strains are becoming more aggressive. Many also stress the urgent need for a vaccine to prevent invasive strep infections. However, progress may be hindered by recent policy shifts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“The lack of vaccine is devastating,” said Dr Nizet. “Of course, we’re concerned about the turn of attitudes at the FDA and the CDC that seem to be putting some sticks in the spokes of the wheel of vaccine development.”
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