Streptococcus pyogenes
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Morphological Characteristic
These bacteria are round and arranged in chains. They are non-motile and do not have flagella.
Identification Methods
A sample is swabbed from the back of the throat and put into a culture that enables the bacteria to grow. If bacteria grows then Streptococcus pyogenes is present. Visual identification is also possible because the back of the throat and tonsils will be swollen. White or yellow spots may also appear in this area.
LIFE CYCLE
-Spread through contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze
-Once infecting a person’s tonsils, sinuses, skin, blood, or middle ear, the bacterial infection can grow due to the fact that the S. pyogenes reproduces via asexual reproduction
HOST INFORMATION
- Human pathogen, so human host
- Spreads through close contact with an infected person through droplets which hold the bacteria
- Strep throat is more common in children and teens because they are more likely to be in close contact with one another and not wash their hands.
- Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Strep throat occurs worldwide. There is not very much data for the number of cases in developing countries, but it is estimated that strep throat causes a greater number of deaths in countries where it remains untreated.
SOURCES
http://legacy.earlham.edu/~stephse/Streptococcuspyogenes.htm
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/strep-throat/symptoms-causes/syc-20350338
https://www.cdc.gov/dotw/strepthroat/index.html
https://www.penguinpediatrics.com/blog/what-makes-kids-more-susceptible-to-strep-throat
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/understanding-strep-throat-basics