Streptococci

Streptococci is bacteria that cause a variety of disease s, including pneumonia and strep throat

Streptococci

Types of streptococci

There are several types. Two of them cause most of the strep infections in people: group A and group B.

Group A Streptococcal infections (GAS)

• Strep throat - a sore, red throat. Your tonsils may be swollen and have white spots on them.
• Scarlet fever - an illness that follows strep throat. It causes a red rash on the body.
• Impetigo - a skin infection
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease)

Spread of Group A Streptococcal infections

GAS is spread by respiratory droplets and direct person-to-person contact. The bacteria are carried in discharges from the nose or throat, and on the skin, where they are often spread by unwashed hands. The bacteria are then deposited in the mouth, nose, or eyes of a new person. They can also enter the body through a cut or scrape.

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Alpha and Beta haemolytic streptococci

Signs and symptoms of GAS

Signs and symptoms depend on the site infected by GAS. Strep throat symptoms include fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands. Streptococcal skin infection causes red and painful skin (cellulitis), or sometimes weeping skin sores with a honey-colored crust (impetigo). Scarlet fever includes strep throat plus a characteristic "sandpapery" rash on the neck, chest, skin folds, and inner thighs. The rash can often be felt more easily than seen.

Early signs and symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis are fever and severe pain, swelling, heat, and redness at a wound site. Necrotizing fasciitis is known for the speed with which it attacks and destroys tissues under the skin, by dissecting along tissue planes.

Early signs and symptoms of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome often include high fever, dizziness, and confusion, associated with low blood pressure and multiple organ system dysfunction. The bacteria may be recovered from a mucosal surface or blood. Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is caused by toxin production and may or may not require invasive infection, although it is often associated with necrotizing fasciitis.

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Streptococcal pharyngitis

Prevention of GAS

There is no vaccine for Group A Streptococcal infections. However, some infections may be preventable by maintaining good overall health, preventing skin breaks, keeping wounds clean, and washing hands thoroughly and often.

Group B streptococcal infections

Group B strep can cause blood infections, pneumonia and meningitis in newborns. A screening test during pregnancy can tell if you have it. If you do, intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labor can save your baby's life. Adults can also get group B strep infections, especially if they are 65 or older or already have health problems. Strep B can cause urinary tract infections, blood infections, skin infections and pneumonia in adults.

Spread of group B streptococci (GBS)

Group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) or GBS is a bacterium that colonizes the colon and genital tract of women, and consequently may cause infections in mothers and their infants at the time of delivery. It is the most common cause of sepsis and meningitis among neonates. Group B Streptococcus is also a common cause of skin and soft tissue infections, which may be invasive, in diabetics and the elderly.

Streptococcal hemolysis

Neonatal GBS

Neonatal GBS disease is categorized into early-onset and late-onset disease. Early-onset cases occur at <7 days of age while late-onset cases occur between 7 and 89 days of age.

Prevention

No vaccine is available for prevention of GBS disease. General prevention measures include maintaining good overall health and avoiding skin breaks, as well as good wound care and hand hygiene.

Intrapartum antiobiotics

Intrapartum (during delivery) use of antibiotics is recommended for pregnancies where an elevated risk of GBS disease exists for the infant. Pregnancies where intrapartum antibiotics are recommended include those where the mother has previously delivered a baby with GBS infection, or had GBS in urine, or where a vagino-rectal screening culture (done at 35-37 weeks gestation) reveals the presence of GBS. If no screening culture result is available, antibiotics are recommended for women who develop fever, have premature (before 37 weeks) or prolonged (18 hours) rupture of the membranes.

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