Reservoir is human skin and oropharynx/mucous membranes, colonizes 10% in pharynx, more commonly children
Person-to-person transmission, occasionally foodborne.
Exhaustive and fascinating list.
Most common manifestations are:
Tonsillopharyngitis ("Strep throat")
Skin infections (impetigo, erysipelas, cellulitis)
Other invasive infections:
Bacteremia
Endocarditis
Necrotizing fasciitis
Meningitis
Toxic shock syndrome
Pneumonia
Other sterile space infections.
Post-infectious immunologically mediated phenomena such as glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever.
Scarlet fever.
Contact and droplet precautions for INVASIVE disease for the first 24hrs of antimicrobial therapy or after last debridement, otherwise no precautions.
Invasive disease is notifiable - call Public Health and Infectious Disease.
Post-exposure prophylaxis may be indicated.
