Strep Throat News and Research

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Acute inflammation of the structures of the pharynx and tonsils, also known as tonsillopharyngitis, represents a common condition that is usually encountered in outpatients seeking healthcare interventions. Sore throat and fever are the dominant symptoms of this condition which usually follows a benign course that resolves without any antimicrobial treatment.

Genome sequencing reveals clues about asymptomatic strep throat carriers

Streptococcal sore throat - strep throat for short - is one of the nastier maladies of childhood, causing fever, swollen tonsils, and the namesake sore throat.

8 Sep 2026

Digoxin found safe to use in young patients with rheumatic heart disease

Patients with rheumatic heart disease who took the heart failure drug digoxin were 18% less likely to die or experience new-onset or worsening heart failure during a two-year follow-up compared with those who received a placebo, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

30 Mar 2026

New genetic mutation linked to highly invasive Streptococcus pyogenes infections

A group of researchers led by The University of Osaka have identified a novel genetic mutation in Streptococcus pyogenes, a common bacterium which causes strep throat, significantly associated with severe invasive infections.

30 Jul 2025

Higher maternal selenium linked to lower streptococcal infection risk in children

Higher maternal selenium levels during pregnancy were associated with a lower risk of streptococcal infections in children, suggesting a potential protective effect.

19 May 2025

Bacteria use dormant phages to create immunity against viral invaders

Like people, bacteria get invaded by viruses. In bacteria, the viral invaders are called bacteriophages, derived from the Greek word for bacteria-eaters, or in shortened form, "phages."

22 Mar 2025

Researchers uncover how antibodies protect against Strep A infections

Researchers have discovered how antibodies help to protect against contagious bacterial infections caused by Strep A, including strep throat.

7 Mar 2025

Study highlights children's misunderstandings of medical terminology

Published in Pediatrics, a new University of Minnesota Medical School study highlights how children interpret common medical phrases, revealing surprising - and sometimes alarming - misunderstandings.

19 Dec 2024

Researchers unravel the workings of Group B Strep infections in pregnant women

Researchers from Binghamton University, State University of New York are unraveling the workings of Group B Strep (GBS) infections in pregnant women, which could someday lead to a vaccine.

9 Jan 2024

Unlocking the secrets of our body's first line of defense against strep throat and more

Researchers have mapped the complex structures of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in interaction with human CD89 and Streptococcus pyogenes M4, offering new insights into how our first line of mucosal defense operates. The study reveals the intricate ways these components may influence each other, impacting both bacterial survival strategies and host immune responses.

10 Sep 2023

The shrinking number of primary care physicians is reaching a tipping point

I've been receiving an escalating stream of panicked emails from people telling me their longtime physician was retiring, was no longer taking their insurance, or had gone concierge and would no longer see them unless they ponied up a hefty annual fee.

8 Sep 2023

STING gene variant linked to increased risk of severe group A strep infections

Group A streptococci are fairly common bacteria that can cause, among other things, strep throat or impetigo.

17 Aug 2023

Lollipop-based saliva collection system shows promise for more enjoyable, accurate diagnostic testing

A lollipop might be a sweet reward for a kid who's endured a trip to the doctor's office, but now, this candy could make diagnostic testing during a visit less invasive and more enjoyable.

10 Jul 2023

Long-ignored antibiotic could help fight against multi-drug resistant bacteria

"The end of modern medicine as we know it." That's how the then-director general of the World Health Organization characterized the creeping problem of antimicrobial resistance in 2012.

16 May 2023

UQ-led research effort secures almost $8 million to develop an mRNA Strep A vaccine

A University of Queensland-led research effort to develop an mRNA vaccine against Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) has secured almost $8 million in philanthropic funding.

10 Feb 2023

Antibody discovery could explain why so many group A strep vaccines have failed

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have discovered an antibody with the potential to protect against Strep A infection, as well as a rare form of antibody binding, that leads to an effective immune response against bacteria.

12 Dec 2022

Sociability in monkeys associated with higher abundance of beneficial gut bacteria

Social connections are essential for good health and wellbeing in social animals, such as ourselves and other primates. There is also increasing evidence that the gut microbiome – through the so-called 'gut-brain axis' – plays a key role in our physical and mental health and that bacteria can be transmitted socially, for example through touch.

11 Nov 2022

Did COVID-19 mitigation measures in the United Kingdom impact the transmission of other infectious diseases?

Researchers explored the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-associated non-pharmaceutical prevention measures on the transmission of 22 infectious diseases in England.

25 Oct 2022

Highly sensitive DNA test identifies neuroborreliosis in horses

A Rutgers scientist aiming to help heal a sick horse created an ultra-sensitive DNA test that could have applications for difficult-to-detect illnesses in humans such as Lyme disease.

18 Aug 2022

Eliminating patients' race and ethnicity information is not the right way to address inequitable outcomes

Algorithms designed to guide medical care can contribute to racially inequitable outcomes, but eliminating information about patient race and ethnicity as an input to algorithms is not the right way to address the issue, according to new analysis from the RAND Corporation.

1 Aug 2022

Household overcrowding found to be a major risk factor for acute rheumatic fever and strep skin

Research led by the University of Otago in New Zealand has uncovered the strongest evidence yet that household overcrowding is a major risk factor for acute rheumatic fever and streptococcal infections of the skin.

7 Jul 2022