What diseases can hemolytic streptococci cause?

In fact, many friends are not familiar with hemolytic streptococci, and its infection mechanism has not been thoroughly studied at present, but what can be confirmed is that hemolytic streptococci can cause rheumatic diseases. Hemolytic Streptococcus is also a common bacteria that can cause recurrent disease, so during treatment, the body needs to be properly cared for.

Hemolytic streptococcal infection can cause respiratory and cardiac diseases. There is no clear explanation for its infection mechanism, but it can also cause rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is a common, recurrent, acute or chronic systemic inflammatory disease of the connective tissue caused by group A hemolytic streptococcal infection, primarily affecting the heart, joints, central nervous system, skin, and subcutaneous tissue.

Pathogenicity

Hemolytic streptococci often cause purulent inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, respiratory tract infections, explosive outbreaks of epidemic pharyngitis, and allergic reactions such as neonatal sepsis, bacterial endocarditis, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, and glomerulonephritis. The pathogenicity of hemolytic streptococci is related to the toxins they produce and their invasive enzymes, which are mainly the following:

1. Streptolysin: There are two types of hemolysin, O and S. O is a protein containing -SH and is antigenic, while S is a small molecule polypeptide with a small molecular weight and is therefore non-antigenic.

2. Pyrogenic exotoxin: formerly known as rash toxin or scarlet fever toxin, it is the main toxic substance of scarlet fever in humans, which can cause local or systemic rash, fever, pain, nausea, vomiting, and general discomfort.

3. Hyaluronidase: also known as diffusion factor, it can decompose hyaluronic acid in the intercellular matrix, thereby increasing the invasiveness of bacteria and making it easier for pathogens to spread in tissues.

4. Streptokinase: also known as streptococcal plasmin, it can convert plasminogen in the blood into plasminase, which has the effect of enhancing the diffusion of bacteria in tissues. The enzyme is heat-resistant and can remain active at 100°C for 50 minutes.

5. Streptococcal DNA enzyme: also known as streptococcal DNA enzyme, it can thin the pus and promote the spread of bacteria.

6. Leukocidin: It can make white blood cells lose power, turn them into spheres, and finally swell and burst.