Streptococcal Infection

Streptococcal bacteria, small inhabit out mucous that grow in long chains, usually inhabit our mucous membranes, particularly those of the nose, mouth, throat, and intestines. If our resistance is lowered, they may cause diseases such as “strep throat” (a severe throat infection), peritonitis (severe inflammation within the abdomen), and scarlet fever (an acute fever with sore throat and rash), or rheumatic fever (an infection that primarily affects the joints and the heart). Streptococcal infections often produce spreading inflammation throughout the body.

Other streptococci may be introduced from outside the body, and this was once the cause of many cases of “childbed fever,” which killed many new mother in centuries past. Two streptococci in this instance were introduced by the infected hands of the doctor or other attendant at childbirth.

Staphylococcal Infections
Staphylococcal which grow in small clusters are normally present on our skin, and most of the time they live there harmlessly. Occasionally, however, if there is a scratch or other small opening in the skin, the staphylococci will get in. They usually produce a localized infection, in contrast to the widespread infections often caused by streptococci. All of us who have had pimples on the skin have had minor staphylococci (“staph”) infections, and staphylococci are also the cause of more serious infections, such as boils (in which the organisms penetrate the skin more deeply) and styes (infections on the eyelids). When a cut or wound becomes infected, the invading organisms are likely to be staphylococci. The redness and soreness around the cut are the results of the body’s defense against the infection.