Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS)
Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) Playbook
Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) is a severe, sometimes life-threatening infection occurring when Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria enter normally sterile body sites, such as the blood, lungs, or deep tissues.
APIC Resources and Tools
Click here to download the APIC iGAS Playbook
- Developed by the APIC Emerging Infectious Diseases Task Force to help infection preventionists rapidly activate iGAS prevention efforts
- The playbook is a concise workflow document that is designed to be user-friendly and operational for busy infection preventionists
About iGAS
- Group A Streptococcus (GAS), Streptococcus pyogenes, is a common bacterium that typically causes mild infections such as strep throat or impetigo
- Invasive Group A Streptococcal disease (iGAS) occurs when the bacterium invade sterile sites of the body
- GAS is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected wounds, or contact with contaminated surfaces
- Risk increases in crowded settings, long-term care facilities, and childcare settings
- Person-to-person transmission of GAS is common, but progression to iGAS is rare
- Incubation Period: Variable depending on infection type, but generally 1 to 5 days after exposure
- iGAS infections include necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome
- GAS is a long-recognized pathogen, but invasive forms surged in the 1980s-1990s
- In the United States, the annual incidence of iGAS is about 20,000 to 27,000 cases each year, with 1,800 to 2,400 deaths (CDC, 2024)
Additional External Resources
