streptococcus

Any one of a genus of round or oval Gram-positive bacteria that have a tendency to form pairs or chains. They are widely distributed in nature, living mainly as parasites in the bodies of animals and humans. Some are harmless, but others are implicated in a number of infections, including scarlet fever.

Streptococcal bacteria found in the human intestinal tract are called enterococci. The number of enterococcal infections showing resistance to vancomycin (a toxic ‘last resort’ antibiotic) are increasing. In New Jersey, USA, where hospitals must report cases of drug-resistant micro-organisms, reports of vancomycin-resistant enterococci rose from 99 in 1992 to 278 in 1994.

In August 2001, the DNA for Streptococcus pneumoniae, which kills 3 million children worldwide annually, was sequenced.