What is the clinical significance of beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from throat specimens?

What is the clinical significance of beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from throat specimens?

This test looks for the bacteria that cause strep throat. This condition causes a severe sore throat and makes it painful to swallow. It’s important to find and treat strep throat as soon as possible because it can progress to more serious illnesses, such as rheumatic fever.

How does the body respond to strep throat?

In response to strep and other bacterial infections, the body unleashes small antimicrobial peptides. These short chains of amino acids are lethal to bacteria in several ways — for example, by poking holes in bacterial membranes and by summoning reinforcements in the form of infection-fighting cells.

What does beta-hemolytic streptococci cause?

Introduction. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GAS) are known for causing pharyngitis and its sequelae, including acute rheumatic fever and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis. They also cause skin infections and invasive disease. Of all the streptococci, GAS are the most pathogenic for humans.

Do you treat beta-hemolytic strep in throat?

Non–group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (groups C and G) also can cause acute pharyngitis; these strains are usually treated with antibiotics, although good clinical trials are lacking.

Can I get rid of group B strep?

Early recognition and treatment is important to cure GBS infection in adults. High doses of antibiotics such as penicillin should be administered and the full course taken. Most GBS infection can be treated successfully, although some people will require all the expertise of intensive care facilities.

Can a healthy person have a throat containing a lot of beta-hemolytic streptococci?

The highest prevalence of BHS in healthy individuals was found in the age group 3-15 years (5.0-21.2%). The correlation between age and the proportion of BHS found in throat specimens was similar among patients with throat pain (Table 11).

How does streptococcus survive?

Streptococcus pyogenes is generally an extracellular pathogen that can survive and persist within the host by circumventing the host defense mechanisms. To achieve this, S. pyogenes has developed a number of strategies to circumvent the host immune system (e.g., virulence factors directed to prevent phagocytosis).

How does streptococcus bacteria enter the body?

These bacteria are spread by direct contact with nose and throat discharges of an infected individual or with infected skin lesions. The risk of spread is greatest when an individual is ill, such as when people have strep throat or an infected wound.

What are the symptoms of beta-hemolytic streptococcus?

The textbook case of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis is an acute illness with a predominant sore throat and a temperature higher than 38.5° C (101.3° F). Constitutional symptoms include fever and chills, myalgias, headaches and nausea.

What are the symptoms of streptococcus?

Symptoms

• Throat pain that usually comes on quickly.
• Painful swallowing.
• Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus.
• Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)
• Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Rash.

How is beta-hemolytic streptococcus treated?

The recommended treatment for group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis has continued to be penicillin given in parenteral or oral form. Treatment failures, as determined by the continued presence of the streptococcal organism in the pharynx, however, do occur in 6% to 25% of patients treated with penicillin.

How do you get rid of beta-hemolytic streptococcus?

Administering oral penicillin for 10 days is the best treatment of acute GABHS pharyngitis. Intramuscular penicillin (ie, benzathine penicillin G) is required for persons who may not be compliant with a 10-day course of oral therapy.