Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a type of bacteria that can cause infection. It’s also known as Streptococcus pyogenes. These bacteria can cause common illnesses such as strep throat, body rash, or skin sores. They can also cause serious and invasive infections like pneumonia, sepsis, toxic shock, and necrotizing fasciitis. Healthcare-associated infections of GAS are of public health concern when they are found in nursing homes. Resources on this page are intended for health care professionals and public health to investigate and respond to cases of invasive GAS in health care facilities. For more information, visit the CDC website 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)