Are there different strains of strep

We don't know what the extent of the problem is in the more common pharyngitis situation. He also said the findings ultimately underscore the need for a group A Streptococcus vaccine, something that scientists have been working on, in fits and starts, for nearly years.

Those efforts have been hampered by the large variety of group A Streptococcus strains. Jan 29 J Clin Microbiol abstract. Grant support for ASP provided by. Become an underwriter». All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Skip to main content. University of Minnesota. Driven to Discover. Site Search. Receive an email when new articles are posted on. Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on. You've successfully added to your alerts.

You will receive an email when new content is published. Click Here to Manage Email Alerts. We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice slackinc. Back to Healio. William Schaffner. Group B strep can cause blood infections, pneumonia and meningitis in newborns.

A screening test during pregnancy can tell if you have it. If you do, intravenous IV antibiotics during labor can save your baby's life.

Adults can also get group B strep infections, especially if they are 65 or older or already have health problems. Strep B can cause urinary tract infections, blood infections, skin infections and pneumonia in adults.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Early-onset used to be the most common type of strep B infection in newborns, but because of prevention efforts, both early-onset and late-onset occur at similar low rates, according to the CDC. In adults, strep B infection occurs less frequently than in babies, but it can affect anyone. The sources of disease caused by GBS in adults is unknown, but the bacteria are present in the gastrointestinal tract and may be the source of infection.

If the infection leads to sepsis or pneumonia, it can be fatal. On average, 1 in 20 nonpregnant adults with an invasive strep B infection dies, the CDC reports.

The chance of strep B infection increases with age. Younger adults who do not have any other medical conditions have a lower risk of death from GBS.

Group C and G streptococci are much less understood than strep A and B because the diseases caused by these bacteria are far less common. Group C and G strep most commonly live in animals such as horses and cattle and can spread to humans through raw milk or contact with these animals. Infections can be treated with antibiotics, but severe infections can be fatal, especially when they have entered the bloodstream. Cases are most common in adults older than By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: January 25, Medically Reviewed. Most strep infections can be treated with antibiotics. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.