Diagnostic Methods for Group A Streptococcal Infections

Group A streptococcus, also known as Streptococcus pyogenes, is an important bacterial pathogen that is the most frequent bacterial cause of acute pharyngitis. It also causes a multitude of other cutaneous and systemic infections, including impetigo, scarlet fever, necrotizing fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. The pathogen has a unique tendency to initiate autoimmunity after acute infection, resulting in the nonsuppurative sequelae acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (AGN). The heart disease resulting from ARF has been responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality in all parts of the world.