Streptococcus Group A

Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease is a concise, yet comprehensive, clinical resource highlighting must-know information on rheumatic heart disease and acute rheumatic fever from a global perspective. Covering the major issues dominating the field, this practical resource presents sufficient detail for a deep and thorough understanding of the latest treatment options, potential complications, and disease management strategies to improve patient outcomes. Divided into four distinct sections for ease of navigation: Acute Rheumatic Fever, Rheumatic Heart Disease, Population-Based Strategies for Disease Control, and Acute and Emergency Presentations. International editors and chapter authors ensure a truly global perspective. Covers all clinical aspects, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and treatment. Includes key topics on population-based measures for disease control for effective primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Consolidates today’s available information and guidance into a single, convenient resource.

This volume details Group A Streptococcus (GAS) research and provides the reader with an extensive collection of research protocols within this important field. Chapters guide readers through standard genetic protocols such as whole genome sequencing, transcriptome analyses, proteome analysis, application of GAS-derived molecular tools, and methods that are crucial for the evaluation of novel GAS vaccines and GAS virulence factors, including bactericidal assays and animal infection models. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Group A Streptococcus: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

Streptococcus refers to any of a number of bacteria in the Streptococcus genus. Some of these bacteria live on humans or other hosts without causing harm, while others invade and cause illness, perhaps the most common of which is popularly referred

Streptococcal Infections: Clinical Aspects, Microbiology, and Molecular Pathogenesis offers an in-depth examination of the spectrum of hemolytic streptococcal infections and their complications. Additionally, the volume incorporates and discusses aspects of pneumococcal, entrococcal, and oral streptococcal disease. The recent resurgence of rheumatic fever, concomitant outbreaks of severe systemic group A streptococcal infections (often accompanied by toxic shock), an increasing incidence of multiple antibiotic resistance among streptococcal species, and an intensified effort to develop effective streptococcal vaccines have brought renewed attention to the continuing role of streptococci for causing significant medical and public health problems in both industrialized and developing countries. Addressing clinical and epidemiological aspects, and microbiological and other approaches of the research scientist, this volume is the first to comprehensively address these clinically important organisms in many years. The contributors are internationally recognized for their expertise, making this book invaluable for infectious disease physicians, (internists, pediatricians, and family physicians, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and basic scientists with an interest in streptococcal infections and their complications.

This plan addresses the need to improve our ability to identify infectious disease threats and respond to them effectively by improving the public health infrastructure at the local, state and federal levels. The goals of the plan are surveillance (detect, promptly investigate, and monitor emerging pathogens, the diseases they cause, and the factors influencing their emergence); applied research (integrate laboratory science and epidemiology to optimize public health practice); prevention and control (enhance communication of public health information about emerging diseases and ensure prompt implementation of prevention strategies); and infrastructure (strengthen local, state, and federal public health infrastructures to support surveillance and implement prevention and control programs).

Discusses group A streptococcus and the diseases they can cause, their diagnosis, treatment, and more.

This volume aims to enhance the current understanding of clinical features, treatment and pathogenic aspects in necrotizing soft tissue infections. Various representative case studies are discussed to enhance the readers’ understanding of these complex diseases. Necrotizing soft tissue infections are rapidly spreading infections that may cause extensive soft tissue or limb loss, multiorgan failure and are associated with a considerable fatality rate. It is undisputed that rapid diagnosis and prompt intervention is directly related to survival. The initial presentation may be limited to unspecific symptoms such as tenderness, swelling, erythema and pain. Thus, diagnosis and management are challenging due to heterogeneity in clinical presentation, in co-morbidities, in microbiological aetiology, as well as in the pathogenic mechanisms. An international and multidisciplinary consortium, INFECT, has for the last 6 years been pursuing research aimed to advance the understanding of the clinical and pathogenic aspects of these infections. A central part has been to create a comprehensive clinical registry and associated biobank which have also formed the basis for the experimental studies. Using the INFECT patient cohort, as well as an integrated systems biology approach in patients and clinically relevant experimental models, an advanced insight of diagnostic features, causative microbial agents, treatment strategies, and pathogenic mechanisms (host and bacterial disease traits and their underlying interaction network) has been obtained.

Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. have not only got pathogenic isolates, but also non-pathogenic isolates. Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. that are Gram positive cocci are the main pathogens in several infections. Virulence factors such as usual and unusual surface proteins encoded by resistance genes are the main causes of pathogenesis. Multidrug-resistant pathogens that are the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide have the ability to synthesize a number of destructive enzymes encoded by resistance genes such as ?-lactamases. Resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group A, and Group B Streptococcus have emerged throughout the world. To eliminate these resistant pathogens that cause untreatable, acute, and chronic infections, different new antimicrobials must be developed and used. The goal of this book is to provide the latest information about the above topics.