GAS meningitis. Group A Streptococcus strains causing meningitis without distinct invasive phenotype

Group A streptococcal (GAS) meningitis causes high morbidity and mortality. To elucidate invasiveness of GAS in meningitis, we compared five GAS meningitis isolates to otitis and colonizing isolates. Genetic and virulence traits were comparable for all strains suggesting that meningitis likely resulted from a continuous spread of the infection.