Epidemiological changes in invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infection during the UK alert period: A molecular comparative analysis from a tertiary Spanish hospital in 2023.

OBJECTIVES: To study the genomic epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes causing bloodstream infections (GAS-BSI) in a Spanish tertiary hospital during the United Kingdom invasive S. pyogenes outbreak alert. METHODS: Retrospective epidemiological analysis of GAS-BSI during the January-May 2017-2023 period. WGS was performed using Ion torrent GeneStudio™ S5 system for emm typing and identification of superantigen genes in S. pyogenes isolated during the 2022-2023 UK outbreak alert. RESULTS: During 2023, there were more cases of GAS-BSI compared to the same period of previous year with a non-significant increase in children. Fourteen isolates were sequenced. The emm1 (6/14, 42.9%) and emm12 (2/14, 14.3%) types predominated; 5 of 6 (75%) emm1 isolates were from the M1UK clone. The most detected superantigen genes were speG (12/14, 85.7%), speC (10/14, 71.4%), speJ (7/14, 50%), and speA (5/15, 33.3%). speA and speJ were predominant in M1UK clone. CONCLUSIONS: Our genomic epidemiology in 2023 is similar to the reported data from the UK outbreak alert in the same period and different from previous national S. pyogenes surveillance reports.

Epidemiological changes in invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infection during the UK alert period: A molecular comparative analysis from a tertiary Spanish hospital in 2023

Objectives: To study the genomic epidemiology of Streptococcus pyogenes causing bloodstream infections (GAS-BSI) in a Spanish tertiary hospital during the United Kingdom invasive S. pyogenes outbreak alert. Methods: Retrospective epidemiological analysis of GAS-BSI during the January–May 2017–2023 period. WGS was performed using Ion torrent GeneStudio™ S5 system for emm typing and identification of superantigen genes in S. pyogenes isolated during the 2022–2023 UK outbreak alert. Results: During 2023, there were more cases of GAS-BSI compared to the same period of previous year with a non-significant increase in children. Fourteen isolates were sequenced. The emm1 (6/14, 42.9%) and emm12 (2/14, 14.3%) types predominated; 5 of 6 (75%) emm1 isolates were from the M1UK clone. The most detected superantigen genes were speG (12/14, 85.7%), speC (10/14, 71.4%), speJ (7/14, 50%), and speA (5/15, 33.3%). speA and speJ were predominant in M1UK clone. Conclusions: Our genomic epidemiology in 2023 is similar to the reported data from the UK outbreak alert in the same period and different from previous national S. pyogenes surveillance reports.(AU)

Objetivos: Estudiar la epidemiología genómica de aislados de Streptococcus pyogenes causantes de bacteriemia (GAS-BSI) en un hospital de tercer nivel español durante la alerta por incremento de infecciones invasivas por S. pyogenes en el Reino Unido. Métodos: Análisis epidemiológico retrospectivo de GAS-BSI durante el periodo enero-mayo 2017-2023. Se realizó una secuenciación de genoma completo con el sistema Ion torrent GeneStudio™ S5 de los aislados obtenidos durante la alerta de brote del Reino Unido 2022-2023 para tipificación emm e identificación de genes de superantígenos. Resultados: Durante el periodo enero-mayo de 2023 hubo más casos de GAS-BSI que en el mismo periodo de años anteriores con un aumento no significativo en niños. Se secuenciaron 14 aislados. Predominaron los tipos emm1 (6/14, 42,9%) y emm12 (2/14, 14,3%); 5 de 6 (75%) aislados emm1 eran del clon M1UK. Los genes de superantígenos más detectados fueron speG (12/14, 85,7%), speC (10/14, 71,4%), speJ (7/14, 50%) y speA (5/15, 33,3%). Los genes speA y speJ predominaron en el clon M1UK. Conclusiones: Nuestra epidemiología genómica de Streptococcus pyogenes causantes de bacteriemia en 2023 es similar a los datos comunicados por el Reino Unido durante el mismo periodo y diferente de los informes nacionales previos de vigilancia.(AU)