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Streptococcus

The flesh-eating bacterium belongs to group A streptococcal infections which are caused by group A streptococcus (GAS), a bacterium responsible for a variety of health problems. These infections can range from mild skin infection or sore throat to invasive, life-threatening conditions such as toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis. Most people are familiar with strep throat, which, along with a minor skin infection, is the most common form of the disease. Experts estimate that more than 10 million mild infections like these occur every year.

 GAS is a bacterium often found in the throat and on the skin. People may carry GAS in the throat or on the skin and have no symptoms of illness. Most GAS infections are relatively mild, such as "strep throat," or impetigo.

On rare occasions, these bacteria can cause other severe and even life-threatening diseases.

Few people who come in contact with GAS will develop invasive GAS disease . Most people will have a throat or skin infection, and some may have no symptoms at all. Although healthy people can get invasive GAS disease, people with chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and kidney problems requiring dialysis, and those who use medications such as steroids, are at higher risk.

Why do some people develop invasive GAS disease?

Under what circumstances do the GAS bacteria become virulent?

The answers to these questions can be found at the following websites:

Today, the pathogen is of major concern because of the occasional cases of rapidly progressive disease and because of the small risk of serious sequelae in untreated infections. These diseases remain a major worldwide health concern, and effort is being directed toward clarifying the risk and mechanisms of these sequelae and identifying rheumatogenic and nephritogenic strains of streptococci.