Streptococcus pyogenes

Streptococcus pyogenes is an organism also known as the Group A Streptococcus. It is the most common cause of bacterial pharyngitis (“strep throat”). It is also a cause of a skin infection known as impetigo. An important complication of these infections is rheumatic fever (a major cause of damage to cardiac valves) and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (a kidney disease in children). Streptococcus pyogenes, along with Staphylococcus aureus, is a common cause of cellulitis (infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues). In its most severe form, Streptococcus pyogenes causes necrotizing fasciitis, a destructive skin and soft tissue infection with a high mortality. Amazingly, no cases of resistance of Streptococcus pyogenes to penicillin have ever been reported. The organism is also susceptible to most antibiotics with activity against Staphylococcus aureus (vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid etc).