Where is streptococcus spp found

Strains which were pathogenic for humans are Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae. But there are also uncommon species like Streptococcus agalactiae , Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus gallolyticus and Streptococcus bovis. Streptococcus can cause pharyngitis, caries, ear-nose-throat infections, urinary tract infections, endocarditis and septicemia. Transmission mainly occurs via droplets or particles in the air or via direct or indirect contact with contaminated persons or objects.

Click here to find products with bactericidal activity. Further Information Use our concentrate calculator Reprocessing of wipes dispensers Products for disinfection and hygiene. Further Information New manual reprocessing procedure for wipes dispensers Expert interview on biofilm-developing gram-negative pathogens Preventing Clostridium difficile infections.

Further Information Basis for good hand hygiene compliance: skincare substances, attitudes and role models Universally applicable: disinfection wipes with low alcohol content Risks of infection emanating from mobile communication devices Proper dispenser placement increases compliance. Further Information Training film: The correct handling with pocket bottles Training film: 5 moments for hand hygiene.

Streptococcus spp. In addition, there are certain strains of GAS that are more likely to cause severe disease than others. The reason why some strains will cause more severe illness is not totally clear but may involve the production of substances toxins that cause shock and organ damage and of enzymes that cause tissue destruction.

Few people who come in contact with a virulent strain of GAS will develop invasive GAS disease; most will have a routine throat or skin infection and some may have no symptoms whatsoever.

Although healthy people can get invasive GAS disease, people with chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes and kidney dialysis, and those who use medications such as steroids, are at higher risk. In addition, breaks in the skin, like cuts, surgical wounds or chickenpox, may provide an opportunity for the bacteria to enter the body.

Group A streptococcus bacteria can be treated with common, inexpensive antibiotics. Penicillin is the drug of choice for both mild and severe disease.

For penicillin-allergic patients with mild illness, erythromycin can be used, although occasional resistance has been seen. Clindamycin may be used to treat penicillin-allergic patients with more severe illness and can be added to the treatment in cases of necrotizing fasciitis or STSS. Certain other antibiotics also are effective. In addition to antibiotics, supportive care in an intensive care unit and sometimes surgery are necessary with these diseases.

Early treatment may reduce the risk of death although, unfortunately, even appropriate therapy does not prevent death in every case. The risk of secondary cases of invasive GAS disease among persons with casual contact to a case is very small. However, there are occasional reports of close contacts such as family members developing severe disease. In general, it is not necessary for all persons exposed to someone with an invasive group A streptococcal infection to be tested or receive preventive antibiotics.

If household contacts are in good health, they should be watched for signs of GAS infection, but will not need to take preventive antibiotics. However, those who are at higher risk of invasive disease if infected for example, persons with diabetes, cancer, chronic heart disease or alcoholism should discuss the benefit of preventive antibiotics with their healthcare provider. The spread of all types of group A streptococcal infections may be reduced by good hand washing, especially after coughing and sneezing, before and after preparing foods and before eating.

Two of the most severe, but least common, forms of invasive GAS disease are called "necrotizing fasciitis" and "streptococcal toxic shock syndrome" STSS. Necrotizing fasciitis is a destructive infection of muscle and fat tissue, and occasionally described by the media as the "flesh eating" bacteria. STSS is a rapidly progressing infection that causes shock and injury to internal organs such as the liver, kidneys and lungs. It is estimated that about 10,, cases of invasive GAS disease occur in the U.

In contrast, there are several million cases of the milder GAS illnesses, strep throat, and impetigo, each year. Invasive GAS infections occur when the bacteria gets past the defenses of the person who is infected. This may occur when a person has sores or other breaks in the skin that allow the bacteria to get into the tissue. In addition, there are certain types of GAS that are more likely to cause severe disease than others.

Few people who come in contact with GAS will develop invasive GAS disease; most will have a mild throat or skin infection and some may have no symptoms whatsoever.

Although healthy people can get invasive GAS disease, people with chronic illnesses like cancer or diabetes, those on kidney dialysis, and those who use medications such as steroids are at higher risk. In addition, breaks in the skin like cuts, wounds, or chickenpox may provide an opportunity for the bacteria to enter the body.