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New evidence supports a greater focus on streptococcal skin infections to prevent rheumatic fever

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: PerspectiveNew evidence supports a greater focus on streptococcal skin infections to prevent rheumatic fever W e noted with interest the recent report finding a relationship between establishment of a skin health program and a sustained reduction in impetigo for children living in remote communities in Western Australia. 1 Although the results suggest it was the impact of heightened awareness which caused this reduction, rather than the intervention itself, this study is an important reminder of the multiple benefits from reducing skin infections.These benefits include the potential to protect against post-streptococcal diseases such as acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN).2,3 ARF can progress to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), resulting in considerable global morbidity and mortality, mainly in low and middle-income countries, 4 but also for Indigenous and Pacific Peoples in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.5,6 Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection is the established trigger for the immune dysregulation that causes ARF. 2

Source: The Medical Journal of Australia

DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52708

Authors: Michael G Baker, Julie Bennett, Teuila Percival, Alison Leversha, Jason Gurney, Nicole J Moreland