Abstract
Notes from the Field: Identifying Risk Behaviors for Invasive Group A Streptococcus Infections Among Persons Who Inject Drugs and Persons Experiencing Homelessness - New Mexico, May 2018.
Highlights
Recent outbreaks of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection among persons experiencing homelessness have been reported in Canada, Europe, Arizona, and Alaska, homelessness is not a well-defined risk factor for invasive GAS infection in the United States; identifying specific behaviors that might increase the risk for infection in this group might help inform prevention efforts (3–6)
Identified patients were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire focusing on known risk factors and potential risk factors for GAS infection and abstracted these data from their medical charts
The team interviewed personnel from organizations that care for persons who inject drugs and those experiencing homelessness to generate hypotheses for the increase in GAS infections among these groups
Summary
In the spring of 2018, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) contacted CDC about an increase in the number and prevalence of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections reported through New Mexico’s Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) system. Recent outbreaks of invasive GAS infection among persons experiencing homelessness have been reported in Canada, Europe, Arizona, and Alaska, homelessness is not a well-defined risk factor for invasive GAS infection in the United States; identifying specific behaviors that might increase the risk for infection in this group might help inform prevention efforts (3–6).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call