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Streptococcus

Streptococcus

|- style="text-align:center;" ! style="background: lightgrey;" | Scientific classification |- style="text-align:center;" |

|- valign=top |Kingdom:||Bacteria |- valign=top |Phylum:||Firmicutes |- valign=top |Class:||Bacilli |- valign=top |Order:||Lactobacillales |- valign=top |Family:||Streptococcaceae |- valign=top |Genus:||Streptococcus |} |- style="text-align:center; background:lightgrey;" !Species |- | S. agalactiae
S. avium
S. bovis
S. durans
S. pneumoniae
S. pyogenes
S. viridans |} Streptococcus is a genus of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. These bacteria grow in chains or pairs, with cell division occurring only along one axis. In this sense they are contrasted with Staphylococcus, which divides along several axes, generating a "cluster " of cells, which resemble clusters of grapes.

Members of the genus Streptococcus which cause disease include:

Transmission

Streptococcus are part of the normal flora of the mouth, skin, intestine and upper respiratory tract of humans.

Specific strains or species can be transmitted in several ways:

  • Physical contact
  • Using the same eating and drinking utensils as someone who has the bacteria
  • Coughing, sneezing, or breathing on someone
  • Touching the same doorknobs, faucets, etc.