Thread: Describe the typical appearance of Streptococcus under a microscope?

K.W., age 9, suddenly developed a fever with very sore throat, headache, and malaise. When examined, her pharynx was red and her tonsils enlarged with pus on the surface and in the crypts. Her cervical lymph nodes were also enlarged. The physician suspected a bacterial infection, therefore took a throat swab for examination and prescribed a course of penicillin in order to prevent complications. Laboratory examination confirmed streptococal infection, and continued treatment with penicillin. This microbe is gram-positive and it adheres to epithelial cells in the pharynx. It produces several exotoxins and resists phagocytosis. It is spread by oral droplet.

Streptococci are long, hot-dog shaped bacteria and they may even attach to eachother end to end if memory serves.