Abstract

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND PATHOGENICITY OF STREPTOCOCCUS, REVIEW

Riad A. Dellol*

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Abstract

Group A Streptococcus (GAS; Streptococcus pyogenes) is a nearly ubiquitous human pathogen responsible for a significant global disease burden. No vaccine exists, so antibiotics are essential for effective treatment. Despite a lower incidence of antimicrobial resistance than many pathogens, GAS is still a top 10 cause of death due to infections worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, the bacterial resistance to antimicrobial drugs has emerged as one of the major universal problems that requires and needs prime attention by humankind due to the emerging resistant acquired by many of the bacterial species which allows them to evade both antimicrobial drugs and the immune system. Streptococcus species (e.g., Streptococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus pyogenes) are categorized serologically and are grounded on carbohydrates present in the cell wall into different groups, such as Group A to Group V. There are over 85 capsule antigenic types of S. pneumoniae, 124 serotypes of S. pyogenes, and 9 S. agalactiae with capsular polysaccharide serotypes (CPS). Group B Streptococcus (GBS) stands out as a major agent of pediatric disease in humans, being responsible for 392,000 invasive disease cases and 91,000 deaths in infants each year across the world. Moreover, GBS, also known as Streptococcus agalactiae, is an important agent of infections in animal hosts.

Keywords: Pathogenicity, Antibiotic resistance, Streptococcus.