Invasive group A streptococcal disease surveillance in Canada, 2020

Abstract

Though the number of collected invasive <i>S. pyogenes</i> isolates decreased slightly in 2020 in comparison to previous years, iGAS disease remains an important public health concern. The <i>emm</i> distribution in Canada has been subtly shifting over the past five years, away from common and well-known <i>emm</i>1 and towards <i>emm</i>49 and <i>emm</i>76. It is important to continue surveillance of <i>S. pyogenes</i> in Canada to monitor expanding replacement <i>emm</i> types, as well as outbreak clones and antimicrobial resistance.