Streptococcus pyogenes Surveillance Through Surface Swab Samples to Track the Emergence of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome in Rural Japan

Wannigama D.L.Amarasiri M.Phattharapornjaroen P.Hurst C.Modchang C.Suzuki Y.Moriya K.Miyanaga K.Cui L.Huang A.T.Okuma Y.Akaneya D.Igarashi J.Suto M.Ishizawa D.Imamiya W.Igarashi A.Shimotai Y.Singer A.C.Ragupathi N.K.D.Furukawa T.Sei K.Wang Y.Kanjanabuch T.Higgins P.G.Nemoto N.Khatib A.Kicic A.Trowsdale S.Hongsing P.Sano D.Shibuya K.Abe S.Hamamoto H.Mahidol University2025-08-242025-08-242025-08-15Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol.232 No.2 (2025) , e275-e27900221899https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/111761Japan recently experienced a record surge in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Our environmental surveillance study reveals that Streptococcus pyogenes persists seasonally, peaking in autumn and winter in rural Japan. The dominant emm1 M1<inf>UK</inf> sublineage and csrS mutations heighten virulence, highlighting the urgent need for targeted surveillance and interventions.MedicineStreptococcus pyogenes Surveillance Through Surface Swab Samples to Track the Emergence of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome in Rural JapanArticleSCOPUS10.1093/infdis/jiaf2342-s2.0-1050131821771537661340358215