Streptococcal diseases worldwide: present status and prospects

Infections caused by streptococci pathogenic for man are some of the most common bacterial diseases in temperate zones and occur very frequently in tropical and subtropical countries. The highest morbidity occurs from infections caused by group A streptococci; these infections can lead to rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. The incidence of rheumatic fever and the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease are several times higher in tropical countries than temperate countries.Recent developments in fundamental and applied research are throwing light on various aspects of the problem, e.g., the rapid (non-culture) identification of group A streptococcal infection. Analyses of the chemical structure of the M-protein molecule of group A streptococcus and of the biological properties of the epitopes of the M-protein have provided encouraging results. Furthermore, synthetic analogues of the protective immunodominant polypeptides of the M-protein have been prepared. The prospect of a streptococcal vaccine for preventing group A streptococcal diseases is thus more realistic.The control of infections caused by group B streptococci is important for the health of neonates. The identification of the chemical structure of the major group B streptococcal types may lead to development of a vaccine in the future. An alternative approach would entail the use of anti-group-B immunoglobulins, but a number of questions have to be answered before the new control measures can be introduced. The streptococci causing bacterial pneumonia, subacute bacterial endocarditis and possibly dental caries have been widely studied and promising advances have been made towards the introduction of better control of the diseases caused by these pathogens.