A return to Covid handwashing advice will help prevent more children from dying from Streptococcus A infections, according to an international public health expert.
Professor Nadav Dawidowicz suggested that adherence to additional hygiene measures had declined as countries emerged from the worst of the pandemic.
A return to more frequent hand washing or disinfection, which removes viruses and other germs so people are less likely to get infected if they touch their face, could slow the spread of Strep A cases, he said.
This was stated by Professor Davidovich, director of the Ben-Gurion University School of Public Health and a member of the Israel Advisory Committee on Covid-19. I: “We need to do good epidemiological studies, we need to have good sanitary conditions, wash our hands, not send the poor child to school, ventilate the classrooms as best as possible – as we did before Covid, because streptococcus A is an airborne infection. [spread by coughing, sneezing or talking as well as skin-to-skin contact].
“Because we live in the post-COVID era, we can use a lot less masks now, so over the past two and a half years, people have been much less exposed and are now much more susceptible to all kinds of respiratory illnesses. infections.”
The recommendation comes after 15 children in the UK have died from invasive Streptococcus A infections since 13 September in England, one in Northern Ireland and one in Wales. No deaths have been confirmed in Scotland.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures show that there are also 47 adult deaths from Streptococcus A in England. Most strep A infections are mild, but more serious invasive cases, although still rare, are on the rise.
Parents were told to watch for symptoms of strep A, including sore throat, fever, red rash, and “strawberry tongue.”
Weekly cases of scarlet fever, an infectious disease caused by Strep A infection, rose to 1,062 from 851 weeks earlier. Invasive Streptococcus A or iGAS cases are up to 652 per week in England in the last week of November – latest figures available according to UKHSA.
Officials said there was no indication that a new strep A strain was circulating and that the death rate was the same as in previous seasons. However, the UKHSA said it was “concerned” about a premature spike in infections – mostly in the spring – especially among children under the age of 10, and that immunity could be lower due to quarantine restrictions.
Asked if the premature spike was due to lower hygiene standards as the pandemic became endemic, Prof Davidovich said: “I don’t want to generalize, but sometimes it happens when compliance is low and people get infected much more easily. . And if there’s a more virulent strain [of Strep A] circulates, you can shut down a community—be it a daycare, a school, or a nursing home—to prevent it from spreading so quickly.
“You don’t need to panic about Strep A cases as they are very common, but if you start getting clusters you should run lab tests to see if it’s a virulent strain and give antibiotics. Normally you only give this to people at high risk, but once a virulent strain is identified, you may want to consider expanding it and taking preventive measures.”
Professor Dawidowicz warned against the government’s national health campaign as it could lead to a “stamp panic”.
He said: “Unlike Covid, these outbreaks tend to be very localized. It’s like the whole country needs antibiotics or improved sanitation. Actions are local so they are led by the school or the municipality/mayor at the community level otherwise there could be a lot of panic.”
The leaders of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and the Royal College of General Practitioners issued a joint statement on Friday morning in response to growing concerns about Streptococcus A.
Dr. Camille Kingdon, Dr. Adrian Boyle and Professor Camila Hawthorne said: “In any winter season, colds, flu and bed bugs are common. But the recent surge in cases of Streptococcus A is not surprising that parents are very concerned. We want to reassure parents and caregivers that this particular infection is common and treatable. In fact, most children recover on their own, without antibiotics.
“The UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely and healthcare professionals are currently on high alert for possible cases of Streptococcus A infection. As always, we encourage parents, if they are concerned about their child’s health, to seek medical advice from a pharmacist, their GP or visit a doctor Call 111 as your first contact.”
Parents report that finding antibiotics for their sick children is becoming increasingly difficult. UK Health Minister Steve Barclay stressed on Wednesday that the availability of essential antibiotics “is not currently an issue”. But the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, which represents about 4,000 pharmacies, said many struggle to find the supplies they need.
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunization (JCVI), said on Friday he was unaware of a “national shortage” of antibiotics to treat strep A.
He said: “I can’t tell you about the supply chain problems, but I understand that we have enough antibiotics in general. Of course, you may have a local situation where there is a shortage, but I am not aware of any nationwide shortage, especially since this virus is treated with one of our oldest antibiotics, penicillin, and is always susceptible to penicillin. should, if recognized, be completely curable.
Professor Hawthorne, president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said she spoke with England’s chief medical officer about the need for pharmacists to dispense antibiotics in various forms.
“Due to regulations, pharmacists are not allowed to dispense anything other than what is on the prescription,” she told the BBC. “I think this needs to be tested and the day before yesterday I spoke with Susan Hopkins, the UKHSA Medical Director, and also with Chris Whitty.
“Because I think that not only should pharmacists be able to dispense a different formulation of this antibiotic, but if that antibiotic is simply not available, there are other equally good alternatives.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.