Streptococcus pyogenes is an organism that can cause multiple types of infections in the respiratory or integumentary system but can also cause systemic infections. Streptococcus pyogenes is found everywhere in the environment and is an opportunistic pathogen causing disease in immunocompromised individuals4. It is also called Group A streptococcus (GAS) or beta-hemolytic streptococci3. It is gram-positive cocci (spherical) shaped bacteria arranged in chains3. S. Pyogenes is non-motile and non-spore forming, catalase negative, facultatively negative and 0.6 -1.0 um in diameter1. When cultured S. pyogenes appears usually appears as white-grey colonies that are 1-2 mm in diameter surrounded by areas of complete beta hemolysis1. However, if they lack capsules or M protein they will appear as glassy opaque colonies1.
Streptococcus pyogenes causes many different diseases in skin and soft tissue, such as impetigo, erysipelas, pyoderma, cellulitis, fasciitis, and respiratory infections such as streptococcus pharyngitis, which can lead to scarlet fever4. Other diseases caused by streptococcus pyogenes include streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), septicemia, pneumonia and meningitis4. Streptococcus pyogenes is the main cause of pharyngitis and Streptoccocal pharyngitis is one of the most common bacterial infections in children aged 5 to 15 years1. It is transmitted by direct contact from person to person through saliva and nasal secretions1. Clinical manifestations of the illness include an incubation period of 2-4 days followed by symptoms of sore throat, malaise, fever, and headache1. Symptoms in children can include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain1. Signs include redness, enlarged mandibular lymph nodes and enlarged tonsils ...
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...us membranes and prevent it from infecting cells3. The IgA protease inhibits this activity3.
Treatment against streptococcus pyogenes infections is treated with antibiotics, most commonly penicillin2. Penicillin is from the class of antibiotics that inhibit the cell wall synthesis of the bacteria3.
No vaccines are currently available for protection against infections caused by streptococcus pyogenes. However, they are currently researching to see if vaccines containing M protein would be effective against streptococcal infections2. A possible vaccine focused on the virulence factor M protein had been developed and has passed phase 1 of clinical trials however it wouldn’t cover all the serotypes5. Current studies are being done to try and develop a vaccine that would protect against S. pyogenes infections5. This would be groundbreaking in the healthcare profession!
Addie may have become infected with the resistant staphylococcus bacteria in the playground while playing with her friends.
The Gram positive bacteria has been nicknamed Posi. The Gram positive species’ morphology includes having an opaque opacity with a smooth margin. The moisture content of the Gram positive species is shiny and the pigmentation is gold. The Gram positive species grows at an optimal temperature of 37°C. The shape of the Gram positive species is a cocci, with an arrangement of grapelike clusters. The Gram positive species’ size ranges from .5-1.5 µm. Oxygen requirement of the Gram positive species is facultative, and has complete lysis of red blood cells. All results are summarized in Table
The purpose of this study is to identify an unknown bacterium from a mixed culture, by conducting different biochemical tests. Bacteria are an integral part of our ecosystem. They can be found anywhere and identifying them becomes crucial to understanding their characteristics and their effects on other living things, especially humans. Biochemical testing helps us identify the microorganism present with great accuracy. The tests used in this experiment are rudimentary but are fundamental starting points for tests used in medical labs and helps students attain a better understanding of how tests are conducted in a real lab setting. The first step in this process is to use gram-staining technique to narrow down the unknown bacteria into one of the two big domains; gram-negative and gram-positive. Once the gram type is identified, biochemical tests are conducted to narrow down the specific bacterial species. These biochemical tests are process of elimination that relies on the bacteria’s ability to breakdown certain kinds of food sources, their respiratory abilities and other biochemical conditions found in nature.
G. vaginalis cells are gram-negative to gram-variable. These cells are nonmotile, small, pleomorphic rods that do not have endospores, flagella, or typical capsules. In vaginal fluid smears, the Gram reaction may vary from positive to negative (Catlin, 1992). G. vaginalis is viewed in non-crowded areas in a Papanicolaou preparation. Their morphology and staining reactions are affected by the bacteria’s physiological state. Both coccobacilli and longer forms occur in 24 hour cultures of G. vaginalis on blood agar. Their average dimensions are 0.4 by 1.0 to 1.5µm. The cells do not elongate into filaments although they can be up to 2 to 3µm (Catlin, 1992).
"Streptococcal pharyngitis," more commonly known as strep throat, usually appears suddenly with severe sore throat pain and is highly contagious. Immediate treatment is required and will cost $111 at an urgent care clinic and $531 at an ER.
The article’s information is presented with the goal of informing a reader on vaccines. The evidence is statistical and unbiased, showing data on both side effects and disease prevention, providing rates of death and serious illness from both sides. This evidence is sourced from a variety of medical organizations and seems reliable, logical, and easily understood, no language that would inspire an emotional response is used. The validity of studies is not mentioned in the article, but it does encourage readers to investigate further to help make a decision. The article allows a reader to analyze the presented evidence and come to their own
Being a gram-negative bacterium, L. pneumophila has lipopolysaccharides (LPS) that act as endotoxin within a human host. The presence of a flagella is thought to mediate adherence to human lung cells, thereby causing infection, since flagella-less strains do not cause disease. Once attached to human cells, the organism is engulfed by a macrophage where is utilizes the internal environment to multiply.
(Nemours, 1995-2011) The two main bacteria precipitating Impetigo are staphylococcus aureus, the most common cause, and streptococcus pyogenes. If left untreated, streptococcus pyogenes can also cause post-streptococcal glumerulonephritis, or a disease that causes inflammation of the kidney to occur following a strep throat infection. Although this is rare, standard precautions must still be taken to prevent these repercussions. Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pyogenes are the main causes of impetigo, but they are not the only.
Necrotizing fasciitis is caused most commonly by Streptococcus pyogenes, group A streptococcus, which is the same bacteria that causes common strep throat 8.
Every disease should have a treatment. Lyme disease has many treatments. Antibiotic drugs such as doxycline, amoxicillin, penicillin, and erythromycin are treatments for Lyme disease. There is a new vaccine for the disease. Its name is LYMErix TM.
Liam is a previously healthy boy who has experienced rhinorrhoea, intermittent cough, and poor feeding for the past four days. His positive result of nasopharyngeal aspirate for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) indicates that Liam has acute bronchiolitis which is a viral infection (Glasper & Richardson, 2010). “Bronchiolitis is the commonest reason for admission to hospital in the first 6 months of life. It describes a clinical syndrome of cough tachypnoea, feeding difficulties and inspiratory crackles on chest auscultation” (Fitzgerald, 2011, p.160). Bronchiolitis can cause respiratory distress and desaturation (91% in the room air) to Liam due to airway blockage; therefore the infant appears to have nasal flaring, intercostal and subcostal retractions, and tachypnoea (54 breathes/min) during breathing (Glasper & Richardson, 2010). Tachycardia (152 beats/min) could occur due to hypoxemia and compensatory mechanism for low blood pressure (74/46mmHg) (Fitzgerald, 2011; Glasper & Richardson, 2010). Moreover, Liam has fever and conjunctiva injection which could be a result of infection, as evidenced by high temperature (38.6°C) and bilateral tympanic membra...
Streptococcus pneumoniae ( responsible for causing strep throat and other throat infections ) are spreading throughout communities at an alarming rate, and antibiotics used to treat Streptococcus pneumoniae are becoming increasingly ineffective as a result of the antibiotic being prescribed to so many people so ofte...
S. pyogenes is a bacterium that permeates our society. Today it is commonly known as the cause of “Strep. throat,” or Streptococcal pharyngitis. Modern medicine has caused the eradication of most of its advanced infections, while this most common form of infection still thrives. It is very contagious, and pyogenes travels quickly through places where bacteria flourish, such as schools and health institutions. The body cannot fight this bacterium very well without help, and S. pyogenes was a common cause of death until the introduction of antibiotics in the twentieth century. It has a number of ways to subdue the immune system, but it is almost completely vulnerable to penicillin, even after decades of exposure. While generally no more than a nuisance, this bacterium continues to be an interesting topic of discussion. (6,3,2)
This enables a significant percentage of individuals who oppose vaccines to reconcile with those who do not, as this eliminates the concern regarding adverse reactions. According to an article titled “Vaccine herd effect,” herd immunity has pervaded many communities to help minimize the spread of disease. For example, in the 1990s, a vaccine was introduced that targeted a strain of disease known as streptococcus pneumoniae, which can potentially cause pneumonia. The CDC discovered a fifty percent reduction in pneumonia cases among the elderly despite the vaccine being offered primarily to children (Kim, T. H., Johnstone, J., & Loeb, M., 2011).