Streptococcal infections are caused by any one of several species of Streptococcus.

• Different groups of these bacteria are spread in different ways—for example, through coughing or sneezing, through contact with infected wounds or sores, or during vaginal delivery (from mother to child).
• These infections affect various areas of the body, including the throat, middle ear, sinuses, lungs, skin, tissue under the skin, heart valves, and bloodstream.
• Symptoms may include red and painful swollen tissues, scabby sores, sore (strep) throat, and a rash, depending on the area affected.
• Doctors may be able to diagnose the infection based on symptoms and can confirm the diagnosis by identifying the bacteria in a sample of infected tissue, sometimes supplemented with imaging tests.
• Antibiotics are given by mouth or, for serious infections, intravenously.

Many species of streptococci live harmlessly in and on the body. Some species that can cause infection are also present in some healthy people but cause no symptoms. These people are called carriers.

Types of Streptococci: The species that cause disease are divided into groups based on their appearance when grown in the laboratory and on their different chemical components. Each group tends to produce specific infections. Groups include group A, group B, and viridans.

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Streptococci and Some Disorders They Cause Species Circumstances Disorders Group A Streptococcus pyogenes Ears, nose, and throat Middle ear infection (otitis media) Sinusitis Sore throat (pharyngitis, called strep throat) Skin Cellulitis (infection of tissues just under the skin) Erysipelas (a superficial form of cellulitis) Impetigo (a skin infection) Wound infections Other Infection of heart valves (endocarditis) Necrotizing fasciitis Pleurisy Pneumonia Scarlet fever (no longer common) Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome Disorders that develop after streptococcal infections Glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation) Rheumatic fever Group B Streptococcus agalactiae In adults, especially those with diabetes mellitus Abscesses Cellulitis Wound infections In newborns Bloodstream infections (sepsis) Meningitis Pneumonia In women after delivery of a baby Bloodstream infections Infection of the uterus (endometritis) Viridans Various species — Dental cavities Infection of heart valves (endocarditis) that have been damaged by a disorder such as a congenital heart disorder or rheumatic fever Streptococcus pneumoniae — Meningitis Middle ear infection (otitis media) Pneumonia acquired outside of health care facilities (in the community) Sinusitis Streptococci and Some Disorders They Cause Species Circumstances Disorders Group A Streptococcus pyogenes Ears, nose, and throat Middle ear infection (otitis media) Sinusitis Sore throat (pharyngitis, called strep throat) Skin Cellulitis (infection of tissues just under the skin) Erysipelas (a superficial form of cellulitis) Impetigo (a skin infection) Wound infections Other Infection of heart valves (endocarditis) Necrotizing fasciitis Pleurisy Pneumonia Scarlet fever (no longer common) Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome Disorders that develop after streptococcal infections Glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation) Rheumatic fever Group B Streptococcus agalactiae In adults, especially those with diabetes mellitus Abscesses Cellulitis Wound infections In newborns Bloodstream infections (sepsis) Meningitis Pneumonia In women after delivery of a baby Bloodstream infections Infection of the uterus (endometritis) Viridans Various species — Dental cavities Infection of heart valves (endocarditis) that have been damaged by a disorder such as a congenital heart disorder or rheumatic fever Streptococcus pneumoniae — Meningitis Middle ear infection (otitis media) Pneumonia acquired outside of health care facilities (in the community) Sinusitis

Spread: Group A streptococci, as well as Streptococcus pneumoniae, are spread through inhalation of droplets of secretions from the nose or throat, dispersed when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through contact with infected wounds or sores on the skin. Usually, the bacteria are not spread through casual contact, but they may spread in crowded environments such as dormitories, schools, and military barracks. After 24 hours of antibiotic treatment, people no longer can spread the bacteria to others.

Group B streptococci can be spread to newborns through vaginal secretions during vaginal delivery.

Viridans streptococci inhabit the mouth of healthy people but can invade the bloodstream, especially in people with periodontal inflammation, and infect heart valves (causing endocarditis).

Did You Know... The bacteria that cause a particularly dangerous streptococcal infection called necrotizing fasciitis are sometimes described as flesh eating.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary, depending on where the infection is:

• Cellulitis: The infected skin becomes red, and the tissue under it swells, causing pain.
• Impetigo: Usually, scabby, yellow-crusted sores form (see Bacterial Skin Infections).
• Necrotizing fasciitis: The connective tissue that covers muscle (fascia) is infected. People have sudden chills, fever, and severe pain and tenderness in the affected area. The skin may appear normal until infection is severe (see Bacterial Skin Infections: Necrotizing Skin Infections).
• Strep throat (pharyngitis): This infection usually occurs in children 5 to 15 years old. Children under 3 years old seldom get strep throat. Symptoms often appear suddenly. The throat becomes sore. Children may also have chills, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and a general feeling of illness (malaise). The throat is beefy red, and the tonsils are swollen, with or without patches of pus. Lymph nodes in the neck are usually enlarged and tender. However, children under 3 years old may not have these symptoms. They may have only a runny nose. If people with a sore throat have a cough, red eyes, hoarseness, diarrhea, or a stuffy nose, the cause is probably a viral infection, not a streptococcal infection.
• Scarlet fever: A rash appears first on the face, then spreads to the trunk and limbs. The rash feels like coarse sandpaper. The rash is worse in skinfolds, such as the crease between the legs and the trunk. As the rash fades, the skin peels. Red bumps develop on the tongue, which is coated with a yellowish white film. The film then peels, and the tongue appears beefy red (strawberry tongue).

Diagnosis

Doctors suspect strep throat based on the following:

• Fever
• Enlarged and tender lymph nodes in the neck
• Pus in or on the tonsils
• Absence of cough

The main reason for diagnosing strep throat is to reduce the chance of developing complications, such as infection of the sinuses, middle ear, or mastoid bone or rheumatic fever, by using antibiotics. However, because symptoms of group A strep throat are often similar to those of throat infection due to a virus, testing with a throat culture or another test is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Several diagnostic tests (called rapid tests) can be completed in minutes. For these tests, a swab is used to take a sample from the throat. If these results indicate infection (positive results), the diagnosis of strep throat is confirmed, and a throat culture, which takes longer to process, is not needed. However, results of rapid tests sometimes indicate no infection when infection is present (called false-negative results). If results are negative in children and adolescents, culture is needed. A sample taken from the throat with a swab is sent to a laboratory so that group A streptococci, if present, can be grown (cultured) overnight. In adults, negative results do not require confirmation by culture because the incidence of streptococcal infection and risk of rheumatic fever in adults is so low.

If group A streptococci are identified, they may be tested to see which antibiotics are effective (a process called susceptibility testing).

Cellulitis and impetigo can often be diagnosed based on symptoms, although culture of a sample taken from impetigo sores can often help doctors identify other microorganisms that may be the cause, such as Staphylococcus aureus.

To diagnose necrotizing fasciitis, doctors frequently use x-rays, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and culture. Exploratory surgery is often required to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Strep throat usually resolves within 1 to 2 weeks, even without treatment. Antibiotics reduce the severity of symptoms but shorten their duration by only about 1 day. Nevertheless, antibiotics are given to help prevent the spread of the infection to the middle ear, sinuses, and mastoid bone, as well as to prevent spread to other people. Antibiotic therapy also helps prevent rheumatic fever, although it may not prevent kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis). Usually, antibiotics need not be started immediately. Waiting up to 9 days for culture results before starting antibiotics does not increase the risk of rheumatic fever. An exception is when a family member has or has had rheumatic fever. Then, every streptococcal infection in any family member should be treated as soon as possible.

Usually, penicillin or amoxicillinSome Trade Names
AMOXIL TRIMOX
is given by mouth for 10 days. One injection of a long-lasting penicillin (benzathine) can be given instead. People who cannot take penicillin can be given erythromycinSome Trade Names
E-MYCIN ERYTHROCIN
, clarithromycinSome Trade Names
BIAXIN
, or clindamycinSome Trade Names
CLEOCIN
by mouth for 10 days or azithromycinSome Trade Names
ZITHROMAX
for 5 days. Usually, the bacteria that cause strep throat are not resistant to penicillin. In the United States, about 5 to 10% of these bacteria are resistant to erythromycinSome Trade Names
E-MYCIN ERYTHROCIN
and related drugs (azithromycinSome Trade Names
ZITHROMAX
and clarithromycinSome Trade Names
BIAXIN
), but in some countries, more than 10% are resistant.

Fever, headache, and sore throat can be treated with acetaminophenSome Trade Names
TYLENOL
or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which reduce pain and fever. Neither bed rest nor isolation is necessary.

Serious streptococcal infections (such as necrotizing fasciitis, endocarditis, and severe cellulitis) require penicillin, given intravenously, sometimes with other antibiotics. In necrotizing fasciitis, dead, infected tissue must be surgically removed.

Last full review/revision September 2008 by Matthew E. Levison, MD