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<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 (&lt;1%).</jats:p>

Original publication

DOI

10.1017/s0950268815002927

Type

Journal

Epidemiology and Infection

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Publication Date

06/2016

Volume

144

Pages

1770 - 1773