Key points
- CDC's Streptococcus Laboratory is a reference center for multiple pathogens of public health importance, including Streptococcus pyogenes.
- The laboratory supports health departments with characterizing isolates, including during outbreak investigations.
Background
S. pyogenes cause a wide range of illnesses collectively called group A strep infections.
Some group A strep infections, like strep throat and impetigo, are less serious. However, they are very common in children and can sometimes lead to serious complications. Invasive (severe) disease, like necrotizing fasciitis, is less common but can be deadly.
Keep Reading:
Group A Strep Infection
Typing and characterization
The laboratory offers extensive information on how to classify S. pyogenes isolates based on the M protein gene (emm).
- emm typing overview and guidelines
- Protocol: emm typing using conventional PCR and sequencing
- Real-time PCR
- Blast emm and emm databases
Get outbreak support from CDC
Public health departments can request epidemiology and laboratory support for group A strep outbreaks via e-mail.