Study Finds Sharp Rise in Dangerous Strep Infections

TUESDAY, April 8, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Severe and possibly deadly strep infections are on the rise in the U.S., a study published Monday in Journal of the American Medical Association said.

The rate of invasive group A strep infections more than doubled from 2013 to 2022, jumping from about 4 cases per 100,000 people to 8 per 100,000, NBC News reported.

These infections happen when strep bacteria spread to normally germ-free parts of the body, such as the lungs or bloodstream. 

Unlike regular strep throat, this type can lead to dangerous conditions like necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) or toxic shock syndrome.