First Evidence of Streptococcus pyogenes M1 UK Clone in Pediatric Invasive Infections in Italy by Molecular Surveillance

Gianluca Vrenna; Martina Rossitto; Marilena Agosta; Venere Cortazzo; Valeria Fox; Maia De Luca; Laura Lancella; Livia Gargiullo; Annarita Granaglia; Vanessa Fini; Katia Yu La Rosa; Marta Argentieri; Laura Pansani; Annamaria Sisto; Massimiliano Raponi; Alberto Villani; Carlo Federico Perno; Paola Bernaschi

doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000004455

First Evidence of Streptococcus pyogenes M1 UK Clone in Pediatric Invasive Infections in Italy by Molecular Surveillance

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2024 Nov 1;43(11):e421-e424. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000004455. Epub 2024 Jul 16.

Authors

Gianluca Vrenna^{1

2}, Martina Rossitto^{1

3}, Marilena Agosta⁴, Venere Cortazzo⁴, Valeria Fox¹, Maia De Luca⁵, Laura Lancella⁵, Livia Gargiullo⁶, Annarita Granaglia⁴, Vanessa Fini⁴, Katia Yu La Rosa⁴, Marta Argentieri⁴, Laura Pansani⁴, Annamaria Sisto⁴, Massimiliano Raponi⁷, Alberto Villani⁸, Carlo Federico Perno⁴, Paola Bernaschi⁴

Affiliations

¹ From the Multimodal Laboratory Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
² Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
³ Major School in Microbiology and Virology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
⁴ Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Infectious Disease Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
⁶ General Pediatric and Infectious Disease Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCSS, Rome, Italy.
⁷ Medical Direction, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
⁸ General Pediatric and Infectious Disease Unit, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Abstract

Invasive group A streptococci infections are increasing worldwide, mainly due to the emm1 lineage M1 UK emergence. Although this variant has recently been described in adult Italian patients, its circulation in children has not yet been established. Characterizing by whole genome sequencing 6 invasive group A streptococci strains isolated between 2022 and 2023, we highlighted M1 UK lineage circulation in pediatric patients in Italy.

MeSH terms

Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Italy / epidemiology
Male
Streptococcal Infections* / epidemiology
Streptococcal Infections* / microbiology
Streptococcus pyogenes* / classification
Streptococcus pyogenes* / genetics
Streptococcus pyogenes* / isolation & purification
Whole Genome Sequencing*