The Netherlands – Doctors are seeing a sharp rise in infections caused by group A streptococci, also known as the flesh-eating bacteria. According to Jan Sinnige, medical microbiologist at the Red Cross Hospital in Beverwijk, the current increase in respiratory infections such as flu contributes to the increase: “The reduced exposure to common respiratory viruses and streptococci in recent years, for example due to the one and a half meter rule, is actually increasing the number of infections”.
The group A streptococcus can cause a serious tissue infection; the Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection (NWDI). People often get big wounds. The burn center in Beverwijk, which specializes in the care of patients with large wounds, saw three times as many patients with NWDI in recent months. “The patients referred to us are just the tip of the iceberg. Many surgeons who refer to us say they have seen a remarkable number of patients with NWDI in recent months,” adds Annebeth de Vries, pediatric and burns surgeon at the Red Cross Hospital.
Speed diagnostics is crucial
Speed in diagnostics is crucial, says Jaco Suijker, who is researching NWDI. “Research shows that in half of the cases these infections are not immediately recognized, which can lead to a later start of treatment and therefore more damage to the tissue. Rapid recognition is therefore required to prevent large scars. This is why the current attention to this disease is of great importance.”
Duty to report infections
RIVM has immediately introduced a reporting obligation for all diseases caused by group A streptococci. The measure, which was announced last Thursday, should provide a better insight into the extent to which the bacteria causes problems.
“A good initiative,” says De Vries. As the initiator of the Necrotising Soft Tissue Infections Knowledge project, she is committed, together with Suijker and Sinnige, to making NWDI more widely known. “Patients often come to a burn center because the wounds caused by this disease are treated in much the same way as serious, deep burns. More knowledge of NWDI will ultimately lead to fewer serious injuries and lower mortality.”
Action towards emergency physicians and general practitioners
In recent years, Suijker and De Vries have mainly worked on gaining insight into the incidence, diagnosis, treatment, morbidity, mortality and quality of life in the Dutch population. In the coming period, they will share their advice on early diagnosis with A&E doctors and general practitioners through specially developed material.
