Arthur Zaltz
Chief, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Womens & Babies Program
Title: Group A Streptococcal Infections in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Biography:
Dr. Zaltz is obstetrician and gynecologist-in-chief at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. He is also the chief of the Women’s and Babies Program and is associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Zaltz has been on staff at Sunnybrook since 1987. He practices general obstetrics and gynecology, and minimally invasive surgery. He is involved in the gynecological management of women with hereditary breast cancer in conjunction with the breast centre.
Abstract:
Lancefield Group A Streptococcus is an important global pathogen with the ability to cause significant disease and has particular implications in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Five to thirty per cent of the population are asymptomatic carriers. Invasive Group A Strep infections have become a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. The incidence and virulence has been increasing for the past 30 years.
There are estimated to be over 75,000 deaths from puerperal sepsis annually. The highest death rates are in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The incidence of infection ranges from 3-10 per 100,000 in North America. There is a twenty fold increase risk in the risk of invasive infection in pregnancy and post-partum women. Most post-partum infections arise in the first 24-48 hours after delivery, often when the mother has been discharged from hospital. Gynecological invasive disease usually manifests as toxic shock or flesh eating disease.