Peptostreptococcus

Peptostreptococcus (pronunciation: pep-toh-strep-toh-kok-us) is a genus of anaerobic, Gram-positive bacteria that are part of the normal human microbiota, but can also cause various infections.

Etymology

The term "Peptostreptococcus" is derived from the Greek words "pepto", meaning "to digest", "strepto", meaning "twisted", and "coccus", meaning "spherical bacterium". This refers to the bacteria's ability to break down proteins and its twisted, spherical shape.

Characteristics

Peptostreptococcus bacteria are non-motile, non-spore-forming, and catalase-negative. They are typically found in pairs or short chains. These bacteria are part of the normal flora of the human mouth, skin, intestines, and vagina, but can also cause infections when they enter sterile body sites or when the immune system is compromised.

Infections

Peptostreptococcus bacteria can cause a variety of infections, including abscesses, bacteremia, endocarditis, and meningitis. They are also often involved in mixed infections with other bacteria. Treatment typically involves antibiotics, and the choice of antibiotic depends on the specific species of Peptostreptococcus and the site of infection.

Species

There are several species of Peptostreptococcus, including Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Peptostreptococcus magnus, and Peptostreptococcus micros. Each species has its own unique characteristics and can cause different types of infections.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Peptostreptococcus
Wikipedia's article - Peptostreptococcus

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

Peptostreptococcus