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Streptococci Micro

Streptococci are Gram-positive spherical or ovoid bacteria that form chains. They are classified based on their Lancefield group and whether they are alpha- or beta-hemolytic. Streptococcus pyogenes is an important cause of infections like pharyngitis and impetigo and can lead to complications like scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, and post-infectious glomerulonephritis. Diagnosis involves detecting antibodies produced in response to streptococcal infection or using rapid throat swabs, which should be interpreted carefully.

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36 views2 pages

Streptococci Micro

Streptococci are Gram-positive spherical or ovoid bacteria that form chains. They are classified based on their Lancefield group and whether they are alpha- or beta-hemolytic. Streptococcus pyogenes is an important cause of infections like pharyngitis and impetigo and can lead to complications like scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, and post-infectious glomerulonephritis. Diagnosis involves detecting antibodies produced in response to streptococcal infection or using rapid throat swabs, which should be interpreted carefully.

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Running head: Alternate assignment for unit 2

Streptococci
Monique Jenkins
ITT-Technical Institute

Alternate assignment for unit 2

2
Streptococci

Streptococci are classified as Gram-positive cocci based on their appearance under a


microscope. They are spherical or ovoid in shape and tend to forms chains with each other.
Streptococci that cause human disease are usually facultative anaerobes, that is, they prefer lower
levels of oxygen in their environment. Streptococci are further classified into subtypes based on
sugar chains expressed on their outer shell (Lancefield group) and their behavior when grown in
the laboratory (alpha- or beta- hemolysis). Most streptococci important in skin infections belong
to the Lancefield groups A, C and G, and are beta-hemolytic. Streptococci pneumonia
(pneumococci) are bacteria important in pneumonia and meningitis but rarely cause skin disease.
Pneumococci are alpha-hemolytic and do not belong to the Lancefield group. This group consists
of a single type of streptococcus called Streptococcus pyogenes. Up to one-fifth of the healthy
population can carry Strep. Pyogenes in the throat. Strep. Pyogenes produces many toxins and
enzymes that aid it in establishing infection. It is an important cause of pharyngitis, impetigo,
cellulitis, and necrotising fasciitis. It is capable of inducing scarlet fever, post-infectious
glomerulonephritis (kidney disease) and rheumatic fever (heart disease). Several of these
products produce an antibody response in the patient's blood that aids in detection of recent
streptococcal infection (eg. anti-DNAase, anti-streptolysin). These can help in the diagnosis of
rheumatic fever, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and erythema nodosum. Rapid-result
throat swabs are also available but are not absolutely reliable and should be interpreted in the
clinical context (remembering that asymptomatic carriage of streptococci in the throat is
common).

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