Pathogens
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A)

Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A)

Precautions

Droplet / Contact Precautions

General Information

Facultatively anaerobic Gram-positive cocci in chains, beta-hemolytic.

Naturally found as a colonizer of the throat and skin of 10-20% of healthy children, with decreasing prevalence with age in adults (< 5%).

Global distribution. Transmission occurs mainly by droplets and direct contact with person-to-person spread, and occasionally food-borne.

Community-acquired infections including:

  • Tonsillopharyngitis ("strep throat")
  • Superficial skin and soft tissue infections (impetigo/pyoderma, erysipelas, cellulitis)
  • Necrotizing fasciitis
  • Bloodstream infections
  • Otitis media

Post-infectious immunologically mediated phenomena including:

  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Rheumatic fever