History of Streptococcus PyogenesAbstract:With the first records dating back to the 5th century BC, Streptococcus pyogenes, and more frequently, its symptoms have been prevalent among physicians and historians for hundreds of years. The first mention of Streptococcus pyogenes must be attributed to Hippocrates, in which he describes symptoms related to the flesh-eating bacteria in its early stages. Then depicted by Billroth in 1874, patients carrying erysipelas were determined to have this certain bacterial infection. In 1883, chain-forming bacteria were isolated by Fehleisen; and the following year Rosenbach applied the name S. pyogenes. Further advances in hemolytic and non-hemolytic studies were made by Lancefield in the 1930s, in which the alpha, beta and gamma subgroups of hemolytic structures – detailed and defined by Schottmueller and Brown – were divided into serotypes. Although he lived four centuries before the birth of Christ, a man named Hippocrates recorded the symptoms of diseases that we still see today. Known as the “father of medicine” (Hippocrates), Hippocrates was an ancient physician who studied and recorded his observations on infections and the physiology of the body. He laid the foundation for future doctors and, in doing so, is credited for our knowledge of infectious diseases in previous centuries. During this period, however, many believed that the earth and its inhabitants were composed of four general elements: air, water, fire, and earth. They also believed that anyone who fell ill was punished by the gods. Being a forward thinker, Hippocrates encouraged the idea that humans fell ill from natural causes. With that wisdom, he recorded all his observations of his patients and their illnesses, carefully taking note of bodily symptoms and their progression. Described in his works, Hippocrates mentioned scarlet fever-like symptoms, 2those that are now related to flesh-eating bacteria. known as streptococcus pyogenes. Thanks to Hippocrates' acts as a pioneer in the medical field, these chronicles are the first records we have of the existence of bacteria. Centuries later, another man began to more thoroughly delineate the characteristics and symptoms of various afflictions. Theodor Billroth, a Viennese surgeon, described streptococci, staphylococci, diplococci, and even rods found in pus as ranges considered to be in a distinct species: Coccobacteria septica (Race). He studied the roles of bacteria and intertwined their origin. Billroth noticed specific bacteria in subjects suffering from erysipelas; he called the bacterium streptococcus from the two Greek words strepto meaning chain made up of rings and coccus meaning berry.