Streptococcus pyogenes - Essay Example

Most types need an enriched media (blood agar). They spread through respiratory secretions. In human- beings, Streptococci causing diseases generally occur in the respiratory tract, bloodstream or appear as skin diseases. If it is a respiratory infection, then its habitat would be the pharyngitis or tonsillitis but in case of a skin infection it occurs as pyoderma. Streptococcus Pyogenes creates inflammatory lesions at the portal of its entry which is most often the upper portion of the respiratory tract.

At times it infects the lower respiratory tract and causes infections of the sinuses (sinusitis), or lungs (pneumonia) or the middle ear (otitis media), Streptococci are both useful as well as harmful. They are essential and are used as indicators of pollution and in various dairy and industrial processes. But beside its good side, it also has a dangerous side to it. Of all bacterial pathogens that attack humans, streptococcus A causes the most number of diseases. It is harmful and causes many significant diseases among which are – rheumatic heart, impetigo, scarlet fever glomerulonephritis, and pneumococcal pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, periodontal disease and pneumonia.

For the past several decades scientists and researchers have focused their attention on two primary species which cause severe infections: They are - S pyogenes (group A streptococci) and S pneumoniae (pneumococci). Streptococcus pyogenes is a common and clinically important human bacterial pathogen causing a wide range of invasive and non-invasive disease, as well as non-suppurative sequelae. (Cunningham, M. W. (2000) Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 13, 470–511). This bacteria attacks the inner lining of the throat and is highly contagious.

Symptoms include severe pain and redness of the throat. The patient experiences swelling within the throat and has difficulty in swallowing. This is accompanied by fever and uneasiness. It is very difficult to diagnose