Nationwide laboratory-based surveillance of invasive beta-haemolytic streptococci in Denmark from 2005 to 2011

The aim of this work was to describe national surveillance of invasive beta-haemolytic streptococci (BHS) in Denmark and to report overall trends and major findings by groups and types of BHS causing laboratory-confirmed disease from 2005 to 2011. A total of 3063 BHS isolates were received from 2872 patients. Based on confirmed cases the overall annual incidence increased from 6.2 to 8.9 per 100 000 persons between 2005 and 2011. In 2011 the incidences of group A, B, C and G streptococci were 3.1, 2.3, 0.9 and 2.6 per 100 000 persons, respectively. An increase was observed for all groups of BHS, but in particular for group G in men above 65 years of age. Among group A streptococci (GAS), five T-types (1, 28,12, 3,13,B3264 and B3264) represented 71% and five emm-types (1, 28, 3, 89 and 12) 76% of all isolates. Among group B streptococci (GBS) four types (III, Ia, V, Ib) represented 79% of the isolates. Potential coverage for future vaccines against GAS and GBS disease was 76% compared with the 26-valent GAS vaccine and 89% based on GBS serotypes Ia, Ib, II, III and V. The number of reported cases of invasive BHS disease increased in Denmark from 2005 to 2011. Nationwide laboratory-based surveillance of BHS is required to monitor epidemiological changes, explore potential outbreaks and determine potential vaccine coverage.