Background: In 2016, we detected an outbreak of group A Streptococcus (GAS) invasive infections among the estimated 1000 persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) in Anchorage, Alaska. We characterized the outbreak and implemented a mass antibiotic intervention at homeless service facilities.
Methods: We identified cases through the Alaska GAS laboratory-based surveillance system. We conducted emm typing, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and whole-genome sequencing on all invasive isolates and compared medical record data of patients infected with emm26.3 and other emm types. In February 2017, we offered PEH at 6 facilities in Anchorage a single dose of 1 g of azithromycin. We collected oropharyngeal and nonintact skin swabs on a subset of participants concurrent with the intervention and 4 weeks afterward.
Results: From July 2016 through April 2017, we detected 42 invasive emm26.3 cases in Anchorage, 35 of which were in PEH. The emm26.3 isolates differed on average by only 2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Compared to other emm types, infection with emm26.3 was associated with cellulitis (odds ratio [OR], 2.5; P = .04) and necrotizing fasciitis (OR, 4.4; P = .02). We dispensed antibiotics to 391 PEH. Colonization with emm26.3 decreased from 4% of 277 at baseline to 1% of 287 at follow-up (P = .05). Invasive GAS incidence decreased from 1.5 cases per 1000 PEH/week in the 6 weeks prior to the intervention to 0.2 cases per 1000 PEH/week in the 6 weeks after (P = .01).
Conclusions: In an invasive GAS outbreak in PEH in Anchorage, mass antibiotic administration was temporally associated with reduced invasive disease cases and colonization prevalence.