Brussels, 08/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - A major European research project piloted by Lund University in Sweden has revealed that sever infections with Group A streptococci are considerably more common than expected in many countries. Research in 11 EU countries identified nearly 400 cases of severe streptococcus A infections (ranging from strep throats, skin infections, septicaemia, angina, meningitis acute glomerulonephritis). The research suggests that the annual incidence of severe streptococcus A infections could be between 18,000 and 20,000 in the EU25. This type of infection can be treated with penicillin in combination with a faster-acting antibiotic called clindamycin, or vancomycin (a glycopeptide).