The bacterial infection known as scarlet fever has been on the rise in Britain, with cases also increasing in parts of Asia. New research suggests that the easily treatable infection might not always be so benign: It shows signs of antibiotic resistance.
Scarlet fever, or scarletina, is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, and it commonly affects those between 5 and 12 years old. Only a small number of people who have strep throat caused by group A strep will develop scarlet fever, which is named for the red, sandpaperlike rash it causes. The disease is unpleasant — and before the invention of antibiotics, it was quite deadly — but these days, though there is no vaccine, it’s easily treated with antibiotics.
In a study published Monday in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers from the University of Queensland caution that the surge in scarlet fever cases may pose a threat.
An analysis of samples from 25 confirmed scarlet fever patients, as well as nine patients who had some kind of group A strep infection, from China and Hong Kong confirmed that a strain that emerged in the 1980s is a common source of infection. Penicillin is a fine treatment, but researchers found evidence of resistance to other antibiotics such as tetracycline, erythromycin and clindamycin. This poses a problem for patients who are allergic to penicillin, but it’s worrisome for others, as well. The bacteria could begin to show resistance to penicillin, leaving doctors with few treatment options.