Pathogens
Streptococcus anginosus group

Streptococcus anginosus group

Precautions

Standard Precautions

Susceptibilities

General Information

Gram positive cocci in chains, facultatively anaerobic, variable hemolysis

Smells like butterscotch

S. anginosus group (used to be called S. milleri group) consists of three distinct species of viridans streptococci (S. anginosus, S. intermedius, S. constellatus)

Normal oral/GI flora

Abscesses - Propensity for invasion including:

  • Head and neck
  • Intra-abdominal
  • Hepatic
  • Cerebral
  • Empyema

Rarely a contaminant when present in blood cultures, rarely endocarditis

  • When these organisms grow in blood culture, look for the abscess
  • Generally abscesses need surgical drainage depending on size/location