Group A Strep Infections | Vermont Department of Health
Source: http://healthvermont.gov/disease-control/other-reportable-diseases/group-strep-infections
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:10
Group A Strep Infections | Vermont Department of Health
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Translations for you
Group A Strep Infections
Other Reportable Diseases
Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)
Global Infectious Diseases
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Disease (HIB)
Legionnaires' Disease
Measles
Meningococcal Disease
Mumps
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Pneumococcal Disease
Polio
Group A Strep Infections
Group B Strep Infections
Varicella: Chickenpox and Shingles
Increase in Cases of Invasive Group A Strep Infections in Vermont
Invasive group A strep infections are serious and may require hospitalization. There is an increased risk of infection for people who use drugs containing xylazine. To prevent infection, keep wounds clean, moist, and covered. Seek medical care right away for wounds that may be infected (red, swollen, painful, or warm to touch) or if you have a fever or chills or unexplained nausea or vomiting.
Read more
Group A streptococcal (strep) infections are caused by bacteria called group A
Streptococcus
. Usually they cause mild illnesses, like
strep throat
or a skin infection called
impetigo
that can be treated with antibiotics.
While rare, some group A strep infections—called “invasive group A strep”—can be life-threatening. This can happen when strep bacteria get into parts of the body where they are not usually found, like in the blood, muscles, or lungs. Two rare but serious invasive group A strep infections are
Toxic Shock Syndrome
and
Necrotizing Fasciitis
(also called “flesh-eating disease”). The CDC estimates that up to 2,300 people die annually in the United States from invasive group A strep infections.
How Group A Strep Infections Spread
Group A strep bacteria spread easily between people. Most often strep bacteria are spread from infected people to others through:
Respiratory droplets (sneezing, coughing, talking).
Direct contact with infected wounds or sores, or their fluids.
Crowded settings—like daycares, schools, nursing homes, and shelters—can increase the risk of getting any group A strep infection.
Symptoms
The most common group A strep infection is strep throat. Strep throat is more common in children than adults. Parents of school-age children and adults who are often in contact with children are at increased risk.
Image Credit: CDC
Strep Throat symptoms may include:
Pain and redness in throat
White patches on tonsils
Swollen lymph nodes in neck
Fever or chills
Headache
Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
Other group A strep infections may cause:
Skin wounds that are red, swollen, painful or warm to touch
Red skin rash
Fever or chills
Headache
Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
Treatment
Contact your doctor if you feel sick or have symptoms of a strep infection.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, which
antibiotics
cannot treat. But if you test positive for strep or your doctor thinks you have a bacterial infection, they can prescribe antibiotics. After 24 hours on antibiotics, you will no longer be able to spread the infection to others.
It is important to get treated early in your infection and to take the medicine as directed by your doctor, even if you start to feel better. This helps keep the infection from coming back or getting worse.
How to Prevent Strep Infections
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
Keep wounds clean, moist, and covered.
Regularly check and clean wounds with soap and water—avoid using alcohol and hand sanitizer.
Use a protective barrier ointment (for example, petroleum jelly or similar) and clean bandages to keep the wound moist and protected.
Bathe and wash clothing as regularly as possible.
Don’t share personal care items, food, drinks, dishes or utensils.
Avoid contact with people with strep infections until they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours.
Invasive Group A Strep Infections in Vermont
Invasive group A strep infections can be life-threatening. These infections happen when strep bacteria get into parts of the body where they are not usually found, like in the blood, muscles or lungs.
Invasive group A strep infections are not contagious.
Cases of invasive group A strep
must be reported
to the Vermont Department of Health.
In 2023, 144 people were diagnosed with invasive group A strep infections in Vermont.
This was over four times higher than the four-year average from 2015-2019. Read the
Data Brief
to learn more.
Common risk factors in people diagnosed with invasive group A strep infections in 2023 included:
Having chronic skin wounds
Using drugs that contained xylazine
Having hepatitis C
Experiencing unstable housing
To prevent strep infections and serious illness, keep skin wounds clean, moist and covered. Get medical help if wounds have become red, swollen, painful or warm to the touch, or if you have a fever or chills or unexplained nausea or vomiting.
More on preventing strep infections
Community Resources
Syringe Service Programs
Vermont’s Syringe Services Programs offer free and anonymous services, including:
New syringes, supplies, and overdose prevention resources like naloxone and test strips for fentanyl or xylazine.
HCV and HIV testing.
Wound-care information and supplies.
Find a Syringe Service Program in your area
KnowOD
For more information about xylazine and the increased risk of overdose, visit
KnowODVT.com
.
VT Helplink
VT Helplink is a free and confidential referral resource for alcohol and drug treatment or other support services.
Visit VTHelplink.org
or call (802) 565-LINK to talk with a specialist directly.
Vermont 2-1-1
For other community resources, information and referrals, dial 2-1-1 or visit
vermont211.org
.
Learn More
More Information on Group A Strep (CDC)
Types of Group A Strep Infections (CDC)
2023 IGAS Data Brief (VDH)
HAN: Increase in Invasive Group A Strep in Vermont (VDH)
Topics:
Infectious Diseases
Last Updated:
May 12, 2025
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Group A Strep Infections
Other Reportable Diseases
Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)
Global Infectious Diseases
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Disease (HIB)
Legionnaires' Disease
Measles
Meningococcal Disease
Mumps
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Pneumococcal Disease
Polio
Group A Strep Infections
Group B Strep Infections
Varicella: Chickenpox and Shingles
Increase in Cases of Invasive Group A Strep Infections in Vermont
Invasive group A strep infections are serious and may require hospitalization. There is an increased risk of infection for people who use drugs containing xylazine. To prevent infection, keep wounds clean, moist, and covered. Seek medical care right away for wounds that may be infected (red, swollen, painful, or warm to touch) or if you have a fever or chills or unexplained nausea or vomiting.
Read more
Group A streptococcal (strep) infections are caused by bacteria called group A
Streptococcus
. Usually they cause mild illnesses, like
strep throat
or a skin infection called
impetigo
that can be treated with antibiotics.
While rare, some group A strep infections—called “invasive group A strep”—can be life-threatening. This can happen when strep bacteria get into parts of the body where they are not usually found, like in the blood, muscles, or lungs. Two rare but serious invasive group A strep infections are
Toxic Shock Syndrome
and
Necrotizing Fasciitis
(also called “flesh-eating disease”). The CDC estimates that up to 2,300 people die annually in the United States from invasive group A strep infections.
How Group A Strep Infections Spread
Group A strep bacteria spread easily between people. Most often strep bacteria are spread from infected people to others through:
Respiratory droplets (sneezing, coughing, talking).
Direct contact with infected wounds or sores, or their fluids.
Crowded settings—like daycares, schools, nursing homes, and shelters—can increase the risk of getting any group A strep infection.
Symptoms
The most common group A strep infection is strep throat. Strep throat is more common in children than adults. Parents of school-age children and adults who are often in contact with children are at increased risk.
Image Credit: CDC
Strep Throat symptoms may include:
Pain and redness in throat
White patches on tonsils
Swollen lymph nodes in neck
Fever or chills
Headache
Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
Other group A strep infections may cause:
Skin wounds that are red, swollen, painful or warm to touch
Red skin rash
Fever or chills
Headache
Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
Treatment
Contact your doctor if you feel sick or have symptoms of a strep infection.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, which
antibiotics
cannot treat. But if you test positive for strep or your doctor thinks you have a bacterial infection, they can prescribe antibiotics. After 24 hours on antibiotics, you will no longer be able to spread the infection to others.
It is important to get treated early in your infection and to take the medicine as directed by your doctor, even if you start to feel better. This helps keep the infection from coming back or getting worse.
How to Prevent Strep Infections
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
Keep wounds clean, moist, and covered.
Regularly check and clean wounds with soap and water—avoid using alcohol and hand sanitizer.
Use a protective barrier ointment (for example, petroleum jelly or similar) and clean bandages to keep the wound moist and protected.
Bathe and wash clothing as regularly as possible.
Don’t share personal care items, food, drinks, dishes or utensils.
Avoid contact with people with strep infections until they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours.
Invasive Group A Strep Infections in Vermont
Invasive group A strep infections can be life-threatening. These infections happen when strep bacteria get into parts of the body where they are not usually found, like in the blood, muscles or lungs.
Invasive group A strep infections are not contagious.
Cases of invasive group A strep
must be reported
to the Vermont Department of Health.
In 2023, 144 people were diagnosed with invasive group A strep infections in Vermont.
This was over four times higher than the four-year average from 2015-2019. Read the
Data Brief
to learn more.
Common risk factors in people diagnosed with invasive group A strep infections in 2023 included:
Having chronic skin wounds
Using drugs that contained xylazine
Having hepatitis C
Experiencing unstable housing
To prevent strep infections and serious illness, keep skin wounds clean, moist and covered. Get medical help if wounds have become red, swollen, painful or warm to the touch, or if you have a fever or chills or unexplained nausea or vomiting.
More on preventing strep infections
Community Resources
Syringe Service Programs
Vermont’s Syringe Services Programs offer free and anonymous services, including:
New syringes, supplies, and overdose prevention resources like naloxone and test strips for fentanyl or xylazine.
HCV and HIV testing.
Wound-care information and supplies.
Find a Syringe Service Program in your area
KnowOD
For more information about xylazine and the increased risk of overdose, visit
KnowODVT.com
.
VT Helplink
VT Helplink is a free and confidential referral resource for alcohol and drug treatment or other support services.
Visit VTHelplink.org
or call (802) 565-LINK to talk with a specialist directly.
Vermont 2-1-1
For other community resources, information and referrals, dial 2-1-1 or visit
vermont211.org
.
Learn More
More Information on Group A Strep (CDC)
Types of Group A Strep Infections (CDC)
2023 IGAS Data Brief (VDH)
HAN: Increase in Invasive Group A Strep in Vermont (VDH)
Topics:
Infectious Diseases
Last Updated:
May 12, 2025