The increase in infections was likely caused by lack of protective immunity due to COVID-19 isolation restrictions, which may have “predisposed children to [invasive group A strep] infection when pandemic restrictions were lifted,” the CDC noted.
A study by the CDC’s Emerging Infections Program of cases in patients with strep A revealed, “The proportion of patients with preceding or concurrent influenza infections suggests that influenza vaccination might reduce the risk for [invasive group A strep], as has been demonstrated for varicella vaccination,” according to the CDC.
Although strep A commonly infects pediatric patients, the agency urges clinicians to consider strep A for anyone presenting with severe illness, including those age 65 and older, and to now offer flu and varicella vaccines for anyone who is not up-to-date with those vaccines.
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