Streptococcus pyogenes (“Group A Streptococcus”), a Highly Adapted Human Pathogen—Potential Implications of Its Virulence Regulation for Epidemiology and Disease Management

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci; GAS) is an exclusively human pathogen. It causes a variety of suppurative and non-suppurative diseases in people of all ages worldwide. Not all can be successfully treated with antibiotics. A licensed vaccine, in spite of its global importance, is not yet available. GAS express an arsenal of virulence factors responsible for pathological immune reactions. The transcription of all these virulence factors is under the control of three types of virulence-related regulators: (i) two-component systems (TCS), (ii) stand-alone regulators, and (iii) non-coding RNAs. This review summarizes major TCS and stand-alone transcriptional regulatory systems, which are directly associated with virulence control. It is suggested that this treasure of knowledge on the genetics of virulence regulation should be better harnessed for new therapies and prevention methods for GAS infections, thereby changing its global epidemiology for the better.

Perianal streptococcal disease in childhood: systematic literature review

Group A Streptococcus has been associated with a perianal infection. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on childhood streptococcal perianitis in three databases: Excerpta Medica, National Library of Medicine, and Web of Science. The main purposes were to document the clinical features, the tendency to recur, the association with an asymptomatic streptococcal throat carriage, the accuracy of rapid streptococcal tests, and the mechanism possibly underlying the acquisition of this infection. More than 80% of cases are boys ≤7.0 years of age with defecation disorders, perianal pain, local itch, rectal bleeding, or fissure and a sharply demarcated perianal redness. Perianitis is associated with a streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis in about every fifth case. The time to diagnosis is ≥3 weeks in 65% of cases. Recurrences occur within 3½ months in about 20% of cases. An asymptomatic group A streptococcal throat carriage occurs in 63% of cases. As compared with perianal Streptococcus A culture, the rapid streptococcal tests have a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of 96%. It is hypothesized that digital inoculation from nasopharynx to anus underlies perianitis. Many cases are likely caused directly by children, who are throat and nasal carriers of Streptococcus A. Some cases might occur in children, who have their bottoms wiped by caregivers with streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis or carriage of Streptococcus.Conclusion: Perianitis is an infection with a distinctive presentation and a rather long time to diagnosis. There is a need for a wider awareness of this condition among healthcare professionals. What is Known:• Group A Streptococcus may cause perianitis in childhood.• Systemic antimicrobials (penicillin V, amoxycillin, or cefuroxime) are superior to topical treatment. What is New:• The clinical presentation is distinctive (defecation disorders, perianal pain, local itch, rectal bleeding, or fissure and a sharply demarcated perianal redness).• The time to diagnosis is usually ≥3 weeks.Recurrences occur in about 20% of cases.

Differential diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis in frequently ill children

Chronic tonsillitis is one of the most common pathologies of the lymphoepithelial pharyngeal ring. The main pathogen in chronic tonsillitis and its complications is group a β-hemolytic Streptococcus A (BGSA). This pathogen is detected in 30–60% of patients. At the present stage, the role of latent viral infections (Epstein – Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV)) in the formation of chronic tonsillitis in children has been proven. Treatment of frequently ill children with pathology of the pharyngeal lymphoid ring remains an urgent and widely discussed issue. Depending on the etiology and clinical form of chronic tonsillitis (simple, toxicallergic form (TAF I or II), the choice is between conservative methods and radical surgical treatment. Surgical treatment of chronic tonsillitis in children is recommended only if there are absolute indications. To standard methods of conservative treatment, such as sanation of lacunae of the tonsils with antiseptic solutions, the appointment of physiotherapy, funds for the correction of systemic and local immunity are actively used. In Pediatrics, the safe and optimal complex of effects of the herbal medicinal product Tonsilgon N is widely used. Based on the analysis of clinical observations of frequently ill children with chronic tonsillitis, the effectiveness of the herbal medicine Tonsilgon H (in monotherapy mode) was revealed. As a result, the expediency of using the drug Tonsilgon H in the treatment of compensated forms of chronic tonsillitis in frequently and long-term ill children was established. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of acute respiratory infections and, consequently, the risk of transition to a decompensated form of chronic tonsillitis.