An outbreak of streptococcal skin sepsis in a closed community.

An outbreak of skin sepsis due to beta-haemolytic streptococcus group A M33, T3/13/B3264 occurred in a closed community. Staphylococcus aureus was also present in many of the lesions, but different strains were recognizable by phage typing. Environmental contamination was found. The outbreak was controlled by isolating infected boys and decontaminating the environment. Various aspects of the epidemiology and the pathogenesis of streptococcal infections are discussed.