Streptococcus pyogenes: How it’s different from Streptococcus and how to test for it

While society has yet to fully recover from the dramatic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the new threat has the medical community and Argentinian health authorities hanging in the balance. The state Department of Health reported this week that there have been nearly 500 confirmed cases of the invasive infection. Streptococcus pyogenes.extension of this bacteria The epidemic has swept across the country and has killed about 80 people.

But what is the main difference between the two Streptococcus pyogenes and other streptococci? According to experts, the main difference lies in the organism’s ability to produce toxins that contribute to the severity of the infections it causes. It is the cause of a variety of illnesses, including strep throat, skin infections, rheumatic fever, and glomerulonephritis.

Check if there is Streptococcus pyogenes, specific tests can be carried out. The most common is a rapid strep antigen test, which involves taking a throat swab and looking for the presence of a specific antigen. Additionally, bacterial cultures can be performed to confirm the presence of bacteria.

“Also called Streptococcus Group A bacteria are the most common cause of acute pharyngitis. It can also cause different infections such as cellulitis, scarlet fever and impetigo (a contagious bacterial skin infection that usually affects the upper layers of the skin),” explains Dr. Enrique Casanueva, professor at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Austria. Physician, Consultant, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital.

The expert noted that “when invasive variants appear in a country or region, severe forms of the disease are observed, primarily affecting children, the elderly, or people who are immunocompromised.”

“The most common clinical diagnoses in the invasive form are sepsis, septic shock, cellulitis and abscesses (localized accumulation of pus in body cavities or tissues), meningitis and pneumonia. Affected people often must be admitted to intensive care intensive care units and have a higher risk of death,” Casanueva added.

Prevention and treatment

The main symptoms that may occur include fever, chills, sore throat and cough, which “are the result of our immune system’s response to the invading virus,” said Ana Putruele, head of the clinic’s respiratory department. . organism,” he explained. He added, “A cough indicates something is wrong, it could be a dry cough or it could be a cough with phlegm, and when the phlegm is yellowish, it indicates some type of infection. “

Professionals say early diagnosis can reduce mortality and sequelae. Protective measures include not sharing items for personal use: cutlery, glasses, straws, light bulbs, towels. Also avoid sneezing or coughing without protection to reduce spread. “Frequent hand washing is another action that should be taken,” Casanueva concluded.

Regarding treatment, the consulting doctor at Austral Hospital emphasizes that “in these invasive forms, penicillin and other beta-lactam antibiotics may fail, and it is necessary to add other types of antibiotics.”

As with all illnesses, do not self-treat, and do not forego or shorten antibiotic treatment, as this can easily lead to more recurrences or complications.

Some common forms of infection are:

• Close contact: Transmission occurs when healthy people come into close contact with an infected person. This may include direct contact with respiratory secretions from someone who coughs or sneezes.
• Respiratory drops: Bacteria can be spread through small droplets of saliva expelled when coughing or sneezing.
• Share personal items: Sharing personal items, such as towels, toothbrushes or eating utensils, can also lead to transmission.
• Skin infection: The bacteria can be spread through direct contact with infected skin or contaminated objects.

Some common symptoms of Streptococcus pyogenes infection include:

• High fever: High fever is a common symptom of invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infection. Body temperature can exceed 38°C.
• Chills: Chills and feelings of freezing temperatures are common symptoms associated with invasive infections.
• General malaise: You may feel general malaise, weakness, and fatigue.
• Severe pain: Depending on the location of the infection, you may feel severe pain in the affected area. For example, if the infection is in your throat, you may develop a severe sore throat.
• Swelling and redness: The affected area may show signs of swelling and redness. For example, in a skin infection, you may notice red, hot, and swollen areas.
• Dyspnea: In some cases, an invasive infection can affect the airways and cause difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or chest pain.
• Neck stiffness: If the infection spreads to the central nervous system, you may experience neck stiffness and severe headaches.
• Skin lesions: In more severe cases, skin lesions such as blisters or areas of necrosis (death of tissue) may develop.