Reservoir is human skin and oropharynx/mucous membranes, colonizes 10% in pharynx, more commonly children
Person-to-person transmission, occasionally foodborne
Most common manifestations tonsillopharyngitis ("strep throat") and skin infections (impetigo, erysipelas, cellulitis)
Invasive infections such as bacteremia, endocarditis, necrotizing fasciitis, meningitis, toxic shock syndrome, pneumonia, and other sterile space infections
Post-infectious immunologically mediated phenomena such as glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever
Contact and droplet precautions for INVASIVE disease for the first 24hrs of antimicrobial therapy or after last debridement, otherwise no precautions
Post-exposure prophylaxis may be indicated e.g. infants borne to mothers with invasive infection
