Group A Streptococcus (GAS), also known as Streptococcus pyogenes, is a type of bacteria that can cause infection. These bacteria can cause common illnesses such as strep throat, body rashes, skin sores, or pneumonia (lung infection). Two of the most severe forms of infection are necrotizing fasciitis (occasionally described by the media as “the flesh-eating bacteria”) and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). Health care associated infections of GAS are of particular public health concern when they are found in nursing homes. This is because nursing home residents can be more medically vulnerable, and infections can spread more easily in this setting. Resources on this page are intended for health care and public health professionals to investigate and respond to cases of invasive GAS in long-term care facilities. For more information, visit the CDC webpage Public Health Response for Group A Strep Outbreaks.
Education & Training
- TRAIN PA Course: Overview of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) in LTC Facilities
- TRAIN PA Course: Demonstrating Wound Care and the Clinician’s Role in Preventing Wound Colonization and Infection
- AHRQ Toolkit for Improving Skin Care and MDRO Prevention in Long-Term Care
Health Care Facility Tools & Resources
- Handout for Healthcare Workers in Long-term Care Facilities
- Normally Sterile Sites: Invasive Bacterial Diseases
- Transmission-based Precautions for Group A Streptococcus
- Wound Care Observation Checklist for Infection Control
- Group A Strep Symptom Surveillance Log
- How to Collect a Throat Swab for Culture
- How to Collect a Wound Culture
- How to Collect an Ostomy Culture
- Bacterial Throat Culture Shipping Guidance
- Antibiotic Recommendations for Decolonization of Asymptomatic People with Group A Streptococcus
- GAS Testing Log
Public Health Tools & Resources
- Public Health Response to Invasive Group A Streptococcus 2023
- Investigation Algorithm for Invasive Group A Streptococcus (GAS) Infection in LTCF 2023
- Group A Strep Line List Template (Epidemiology)