Danchun Guo¹, Shuting Zhuang¹, Yifan Ruan¹, Zihao Liu¹, Qing Meng¹, Keni Lai¹, Li Li¹, Yanmin Bao¹, Wenjian Wang¹, Dingle Yu¹
1- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, China
Abstract Body
Introduction: Invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infections pose a significant threat to children\\\'s health. Despite effective antimicrobial therapy , increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a global public health challenge. Emm typing system is crucial for epidemiological and resistance studies. Currently , China lacks a nationwide active iGAS diseases surveillance system, and relevant research remains scarce.
Objectives: This study analyzed the clinical characteristics, emm types, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of iGAS infections in children in Shenzhen, aiming to provide baseline data for establishing and refining China’s active iGAS diseases surveillance system.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 97 hospitalized iGAS infections cases admitted to Shenzhen Children\\\'s Hospital from January 2014 to June 2025. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 8 antimicrobial agents was determined using the broth microdilution method for 37 iGAS isolates. Emm typing was performed by amplifying the emm gene via polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: IGAS infection predominantly affected children aged 5-9 years, with a peak in winter. Case numbers rebounded rapidly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Soft tissue infection (57 .7%) and pneumonia (36.1%) predominated. Predominant emm types were emm12 (45.9%) and emm1 (29.7%). Emm cluster typing was dominated by clade Y (86.5%), and emm pattern typing was dominated by pattern A-C (86.5%). Except for one isolate without stable MIC, all isolates were susceptible to penicillin and chloramphenicol, with 94.4% susceptible to levofloxacin. Resistance rates to erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and tetracycline reached 77 .8%.
Conclusions: This study provides essential baseline data for establishing and refining a nationwide active iGAS disease surveillance system.