Streptococcal update. A microbiology perspective.
The streptococci remain important human pathogens despite it being nearly 60 years since sulphonamides were introduced. Rheumatic fever and post glomerulonephritis are common diseases in the Aboriginal community, and a new invasive disease, toxic shock-like syndrome, is also caused by Group A Streptococcus. Group B, first described over 50 years ago in obstetric wards remains the primary neonatal pathogen despite attempts to eliminate this organism from the genital tract of the carrier mother. A major concern in paediatrics is the relatively poor response to the current pneumococcal vaccines. Australian researchers are playing a major role in developing a new vaccine with high antigenicity against all of the 100 odd serotypes of S pneumoniae. The oral streptococci are now recognised as important opportunistic pathogens and the pathogenesis is well defined. Disturbing reports from different geographical regions alert us to the antibiotic resistance in some of the streptococci once thought of as sensitive bacteria, for example, Group A has shown resistance to erythromycin, the pneumococcus to penicillin and beta-lactam antibiotics and the aminoglycosides have been ineffective against the enterococci due to plasmid-borne genes.
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Head of the Microbiology Unit, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory.
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines