Latest news with #iGAS
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rare but ‘catastrophic' bacterial infection behind NSW children's deaths
A rare but highly aggressive infection that surged after the lifting of COVID restrictions probably contributed to the death of two-year-old Pippa White, as well as resulting in the deaths of at least four more children in NSW, an inquest has heard. Associate Professor Kathryn Browning Carmo, acting director of the NSW Newborn & paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS), told an inquest into Pippa's death on Tuesday that hers was one of the first 'in a series of cases' of Group A streptococcus (iGAS) the emergency service dealt with over a two-year period. Carmo said NSW was largely 'immune naive' to what appeared to be a more aggressive form of the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes when doctors at Orange Base Hospital called for NETS assistance around 6am on June 13, 2022, hours before Pippa's death. The infection was rare but could lead to 'devastating, crashing and catastrophic' cases of sepsis in children, Carmo said, noting that some children could go from having very little water in the lungs to 'complete whiteout' on scans 'within hours'. 'It was that aggressive … it was an absolutely devastating illness,' she said. An academic paper co-authored by Carmo and read in court showed the NETS team were referred to 77 cases of children with iGAS between November 2022 and February 2024. Four died from the infection. In the previous five years, they had responded to just nine cases.
The Age
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Age
Rare but ‘catastrophic' bacterial infection behind NSW children's deaths
A rare but highly aggressive infection that surged after the lifting of COVID restrictions probably contributed to the death of two-year-old Pippa White, as well as resulting in the deaths of at least four more children in NSW, an inquest has heard. Associate Professor Kathryn Browning Carmo, acting director of the NSW Newborn & paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS), told an inquest into Pippa's death on Tuesday that hers was one of the first 'in a series of cases' of Group A streptococcus (iGAS) the emergency service dealt with over a two-year period. Carmo said NSW was largely 'immune naive' to what appeared to be a more aggressive form of the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes when doctors at Orange Base Hospital called for NETS assistance around 6am on June 13, 2022, hours before Pippa's death. The infection was rare but could lead to 'devastating, crashing and catastrophic' cases of sepsis in children, Carmo said, noting that some children could go from having very little water in the lungs to 'complete whiteout' on scans 'within hours'. 'It was that aggressive … it was an absolutely devastating illness,' she said. An academic paper co-authored by Carmo and read in court showed the NETS team were referred to 77 cases of children with iGAS between November 2022 and February 2024. Four died from the infection. In the previous five years, they had responded to just nine cases.
CBC
07-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Invasive strep, influenza A outbreak happening at Maplehurst jail
Social Sharing Inmates and workers at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton are dealing with outbreaks of both invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) and influenza A, according to the union that represents employees. In a statement shared with CBC News Friday, Janet Laverty, chair of the ministry employee relations committee, said the Ministry of Health notified OPSEU this week about the outbreaks. "Our members continue to work in these difficult conditions and have also been impacted by these outbreaks," she said. "Several have required medical attention, and we are working to ensure that the appropriate supports are in place for those that are impacted." Laverty said Halton Public Health and Ontario Public Health officials are working with the provincial Ministry of Health to respond to the outbreaks. CBC Toronto has reached out to both the province and public health for comment, but did not immediately hear back. Laverty said any other questions about the state of the outbreaks and the condition of those affected would need to be answered by ministry officials. Group A strep is a disease caused by bacteria that spreads through person-to-person contact. Some people carry the bacteria in their throat or on their skin with mild symptoms, or none at all. In rare cases, Public Health Ontario says, the infection can become "invasive" when bacteria enters the blood or deep tissue, which can result in life-threatening illness.
