What are Strep infection?

Strep infection belong to the phylum, firmicutes. Streptococcus (plural) originates from a Greek word streptos, which means that they are easily bent or twisted into chains. This bacterium is anaerobic, occurring in pairs or twisted chains. It is non catalase in nature, meaning they don’t necessarily require oxygen to breed. They have been subdivided into groups by antibodies. Each of the group may have one or more species. The most common Strep infection are: group A, B and D. Group A causes infectious diseases such as: pharyngitis and pneumonia. What’s interesting however; is that these bacteria may not always be pathogenic. In fact, these bacteria are a fundamental ingredient for production of Swiss cheese and yoghurt.

These groups have been categorized on the basis of their hemolytic properties. Hemolytic refers to the sort of reaction they have on red blood cells (RBC). These hemolytic properties are alpha, beta and gamma. Pneumonie (what causes pneumonia) and viridians are alpha hemolytic in nature. Pneumoniae are the leading cause of pneumonia and other etiological diseases, while viridians are non-pathogenic (the green stuff in Swiss cheese). Sometimes viridians S enter our blood stream at time of tooth extractions. It is found orally and once it gets a chance to enter our blood stream may cause endocarditis. Strep infection belonging to alpha have five more sub groups. These bacteria usually affect people aged between 5-15 years. They generally do not cause any serious infections except on those having immune deficiencies. Whenever, streptococcus detects a weakness in immune system which could be due to any reason or deficiency it attacks the victim. Sometimes the elderly or infants may also get attacked by streptococcus as they have weaker immune system then the rest. They are the prime originators of rheumatic fevers, toxic shocks, scarlet fevers and acute glomerulonephrits, the latter being a complex kidney disease.

Strep infection belonging to group D have also been classified further. They are the members of both alpha and gamma hemolytic. They can breed in saline water, and these types are mainly responsible for urinary tract infections and infections caused by fecal contamination. These usually are present in the gastrointestinal tract of both humans and animals. Opportunist infections, such as intra abdominal start to flourish whenever, they get a chance. Then there is the beta hemolytic, which has been classified into six groups. Almost all of these are pathogenic. Group A diseases are entirely dependent on the workings of bacterium, streptococcus pyogene. Group B breeds due to agalactiae. Four of these types like to abode in humans, while type C and G find animal bodies better suited for the job. Some types of Group G can still infect humans though.

Then we have these minute colony Strep infection which do not fall in any particular group. They all belong to different groupings; they could be alpha, beta, gamma or even non-group able.

All this classification could be slightly mind boggling at first. But, it is important to understand it as different types of bacteria show different reactions and require adequate treatments and diagnostic tests. This is because in some rare cases if the bacteria are not detected early on, it may lead to further complications and could even turn out to be fatal.

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