Group A Streptococcus (GAS): quarterly report

The publication provides data on GAS activity in Scotland for the most recent quarter, organised into ISO weeks.

Infections in Scotland

Group A Streptococcus

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• Electronic Communication of Surveillance in Scotland (ECOSS)
• PHS iGAS enhanced surveillance database

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28 May 2024

Quarterly

Quarter three, weeks 40 to 52 of 2023, approximately one week in arrears.

Data from 2016 to December 2023 is presented.

Figures contained within each publication may also be subject to change in future publications. Further detail can be found on the about our statistics section of the website.

This publication has no revisions.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS)  – also known as Streptococcus pyogenes  or Strep A – are bacteria which can colonise the throat, skin and anogenital tract. Many people carry GAS in these areas without resulting illness, however there are occasions where GAS can cause illness. GAS infection commonly presents as a mild illness with a sore throat. GAS can also cause a range of skin, soft tissue and respiratory tract infections, including scarlet fever.

GAS also can occasionally cause severe infection. GAS infections are classified as invasive (iGAS) if they have GAS isolated from a normally sterile body site, such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, joint aspirate, pericardial peritoneal-pleural fluids, bone, endometrium, deep tissue or deep abscess at operation or post-mortem.

Under the Public Health (Scotland) Act 2008, cases of iGAS are notifiable. iGAS cases are also reported to PHS through an enhanced questionnaire, which provides further information on risk factors and outcomes. In addition, invasive GAS samples are sent to the reference laboratory for further analysis and typing.  

Data are collected as part of mandatory public health surveillance providing data to monitor the epidemiology of GAS and iGAS, informing public health planning and response. 

Statistics are used by PHS for surveillance purposes and published for transparency. 

The data are considered accurate. 

Data are validated locally by partnerships. 

PHS carries out further validation checks in consultation with NHS Boards, as required. 

The Code of Practice for Statistics has been followed to ensure a high standard of data value, trustworthiness and quality. 

All data returned from ECOSS is used for analysis.

Data on mortality is extracted from the PHS iGAS enhanced surveillance system.

Scottish data is regularly compared to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) GAS activity reports.

It is the policy of Public Health Scotland (PHS) to make its web sites and products accessible according to published guidelines.

All delayed discharge reports are available on this website. 

Number of cases of GAS/iGAS is a count of those cases reported via PHS ECOSS  in a given quarter.

The PHS protocol on statistical disclosure is followed.

The risk of disclosure from the data described is low.

Experimental statistics.

Not assessed.

Not applicable.

27 August 2024

28 May 2024

phs.flu@phs.scot

18 March 2024