It is not orange and does not play golf, but it is nonetheless dangerous. There Streptococcus pyogenesor Streptococcus of group A, slowly colonizes the United States, according to a study of centers for the control and prevention of diseases (CDC). With 35 million patients in ten American states, over the 2013-2022 period, it was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Responsible for streptococcal pharyngitis, this streptococcus can cause much more serious and potentially fatal diseases. Like necrotizing fasciitis, a so-called “flesh-eaten” infection, and toxic shock syndrome, which can trigger a multi-de-outer organs, reports the New Atlas technological news site. An inconvenient picture, you will understand.
“Before 2013, infections remained relatively low and stable, Indicates New Atlas. The prevalence of streptococcus has more than doubled, going from 3.6 to 8.2 per 100,000 people. Some demographic groups are affected disproportionately, especially socially and medically vulnerable people. The annual number of cases increased from 1,082 in 2013 to 2,759 in 2022. ”
The homeless on the front line
This increase seems linked to an increasing diversity of the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes: Between 2013 and 2022, the rarest strains, responsible for infections (including “flesh eaters”) exploded, from 0.3% to 26.9%. The resistance of the bacteria to certain antibiotics, such as clindamycin and macrolides, also jumped from 12.7% to 33.1%. Fortunately, penicillin and ampicillin remain effective … but for how long?
Vulnerable populations are the main victims. First, those made subject to skin infections due to their chronic diseases, such as diabetes or obesity, but also users of drugs injected into intravenous. Among the most affected, the homeless, in whom infections Streptococcus pyogenes have almost increased tenfold in nine years.
“The growing burden of infections (…), in particular among the economically and socially marginalized groups, requires urgent attentionalert researchers. A better understanding of the transmission factors (…) and the growing incidence of the disease could guide prevention and control efforts before the availability of an approved vaccine. ”
Efforts should be made to reduce risk factors, including skin lesions and infections, which are the gateway to these bacteria in the body. Unfortunately for the Americans, the Trump/Musk duo dismissed 10% of CDC employees, or 1,300 people, and 1,500 employees of the National Health Institutes (NIH). What predict a bright future to the rodent bacteria of flesh.
