[Retrospective study of invasive group A streptococcal infections in paediatric patients during the recrudescence period alerted by the World Health Organization].

Following an increase in the incidence of invasive Group A Streptococcal infections (iGASi) in the paediatric department of our institution, concomitant with a World Health Organization alert at the end of December 2022, we conducted a retrospective study at the Citadelle hospital in Liège until the end of 2023. As described in the literature, the patients most affected are healthy children under the age of 5. On admission, the clinical picture was non specific. The diagnosis of iGASi was mostly made by identifying the germ on a pleural fluid sample or on a blood culture (predominance of purulent pneumonia and pleurisy as well as toxic shock syndrome). In half the cases, a virus was also identified by PCR on a nasopharyngeal swab. These patients required prolonged hospitalisation, including a stay in intensive care for 68 % of them.