Group A streptococcal strains isolated in Lao People's Democratic Republic from 2004 to 2013
RATTANAVONG S., DANCE DAB., DAVONG V., BAKER C., FROST H., PHETSOUVANH R., VONGSOUVATH M., NEWTON PN., STEER AC., SMEESTERS PR.
<jats:title>SUMMARY</jats:title><jats:p>Epidemiological data regarding group A streptococcal (GAS) infections in South East Asia are scarce with no information from Laos. We characterized <jats:italic>emm</jats:italic> types, <jats:italic>emm</jats:italic> clusters and the antibiotic resistance profile of 124 GAS isolates recovered in Laos during 2004–2013. Most strains were recovered from skin and invasive infections (76% and 19%, respectively). Thirty-four <jats:italic>emm</jats:italic> types were identified as belonging to 12 <jats:italic>emm</jats:italic> clusters and no novel <jats:italic>emm</jats:italic> types were identified. No significant differences were observed in the distribution of <jats:italic>emm</jats:italic> types or <jats:italic>emm</jats:italic> clusters according to age or site of recovery (skin or invasive infections). There was moderate strain diversity in this country but considerable differences in <jats:italic>emm</jats:italic>-type distribution between Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. Vaccine coverage was high for the J8 vaccine candidate. The theoretical coverage for the 30-valent vaccine candidate needs further investigation. Antibiotic resistance was moderate to erythromycin and chloramphenicol (8% and 7%, respectively) and low to ofloxacin (<1%).</jats:p>