BACKGROUND Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare and severe manifestation of group A streptococcal infection. The role of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for streptococcal TSS in children is controversial. This study aims to describe the epidemiology of streptococcal TSS in children and to determine whether adjunctive therapy with IVIG is associated with improved outcomes. METH...

4. Farley MM, Harvey RC, Stull T, et al. A population-based assessment of are rare in adults, routine screening for GBS, as done before delivinvasive disease due to group B streptococcus in nonpregnant adults. ery to prevent GBS infection in neonates, is not economically N Engl J Med 1993;328:1807–11. feasible. 5. Sarmiento R, Wilson FM, Khatib R. Group B streptococcal meningitis in adults: cas...

Streptococcal mitogenic exotoxin Z (SMEZ), a superantigen derived from Streptococcus pyogenes, provoked expansion of human lymphocytes expressing the Vbeta 2, 4, 7 and 8 motifs of T-cell receptor. SMEZ was pyrogenic in rabbits and stimulated the expression of the T-cell activation markers CD69 and cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen. A variety of cytokines was released by human mononuclear ...

Specific neutralizing antibodies directed against streptococcal DPNase were induced experimentally in rabbits and guinea pigs by the injection of partially purified preparations of the enzyme. Similar antibodies capable of inhibiting the biological activity of the enzyme were found to occur naturally in the serum of a very high percentage of human beings, and the titer of these antibodies often...

Rheuniatic fever is a recurrent disease which frequently can be prevented. Infection with group A streptococci precipitates both initial and recurrent attacks; therefore, prevention of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease depends upon the control of streptococcal infections. This may be accomplished, one by prevention of streptococcal infections in rheumatic subjects, and, two by early a...

Streptococcal pharyngitis is among the most common bacterial infections, but the molecular mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Here we investigate the interactions among three major players in streptococcal pharyngitis: streptococci, plasma, and saliva. We find that saliva activates the plasma coagulation system through both the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathways, entrapping the bac...

INTRODUCTION Acute Rheumatic Fever and Post Streptococcal Reactive Arthritis in adults can present in a similar manner. CASE PRESENTATION A 25 year old Caucasian male developed a transient crippling polyarthritis one month following treatment of a sore throat. The patient was found to meet criteria for both Acute Rheumatic Fever and Post Streptococcal Reactive Arthritis, leading to the questi...

Gram-positive streptococci are non-motile, chain-forming bacteria commonly found in the normal oral and bowel flora of warm-blooded animals. Over the past decade, a proteomic approach combining 2-DE and MS has been used to systematically map the cellular, surface-associated and secreted proteins of human pathogenic streptococcal species. The public availability of complete streptococcal genomic...

BACKGROUND Although Streptococcal bacteremia is common in diarrheal children with high morbidity and mortality, no systematic data are available on Streptococcal bacteremia in diarrheal children. We sought to evaluate the factors associated with Streptococcal bacteremia in diarrheal children under five years of age and their outcome. METHODS We used an unmatched case-control design to investi...