Publication date: Jun 27, 2026
Pediatric invasive Group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infections two years before, during, and a year after the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic were analyzed in an urban hospital in the Northeastern United States. Invasive GAS was diagnosed in 38 patients. There were as many infected children post-COVID as in the prior 4. 5 years combined. The post-pandemic surge was most striking in late spring. The median age was youngest during the post-pandemic year at 2. 3 years. During and after the pandemic, about half the children had concurrent virus detection, and two-thirds had no known chronic comorbidities, highlighting Streptococcus pyogenes’ potential for significant morbidity in healthy and young children. The spectrum of iGAS disease manifestations was similar among the 3 time periods, with soft tissue infections predominating overall. Of post-pandemic GAS isolates, 67% were emm1 and 33% were emm12. Preventive efforts of this grave disease at all ages should continue.
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus | emm types |
| Hospital | pediatric emergencies |
| Northeastern | sepsis |
| Spring | viral coinfections |
| Youngest |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | infections |
| disease | MESH | soft tissue infections |
| disease | MESH | bacterial infections |
| disease | MESH | emergencies |
| disease | MESH | sepsis |
| disease | MESH | coinfections |