Streptococcus Pyogenes is More than Strep Throat

Streptococcus Pyogenes: More than Strep Throat

S. pyogenes infections may vary from mild to life-threatening with a plethora of symptoms due to the many types of infections it causes. This bacterium is responsible for the diseases of pharyngitis, rheumatic fever, impetigo, erysipelas, cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, and toxic shock syndrome, just to name a few. Each of these infections has its own unique set of symptoms as will be explored in depth below.

Streptococcus Pyogenes is a very diverse bacteria with effects ranging from nothing or a mild sore throat, to flesh eating disease, causing death in 40-60% of patients. The major and most common illnesses associated with this bacteria are: pharyngitis, Rheumatic fever, Impetigo, Erysipelas, Cellulitis, Necrotizing Fasciitis, Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis (GN), and Streptococcal Toxic Shock-like Syndrome. Symptoms caused by S. pyogenes vary greatly depending on the mode of infection, the host’s immune response, and treatment of the infection.

Strep Throat disease, also known as streptococcal pharyngitis, is a fairly common infection caused by S. pyogenes. The route of infection is most commonly by direct contact via aerosolized particles containing the bacterium, less commonly, infections have been transmitted through shared use of pillow cases, personal hygiene products, and toys. Rarely, bacteria can be spread through contaminated food, most commonly milk and other dairy goods. Once inhaled or consumed, specific lipoteichoic acids allow the bacterium to bind to epithelial cells in the throat (Tomalty). The exotoxin produced by S. Pyogenes is not only a superantigen, but also a pyrogen, causing a massive immune resp...

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