Which statement about Streptococcus pyogenes is correct?

The statement indicating that Streptococcus pyogenes is highly sensitive to bacitracin is accurate. Streptococcus pyogenes, which is a Group A Streptococcus, is indeed known for its susceptibility to bacitracin. This characteristic is a crucial aspect in differentiating this organism from other streptococci during laboratory identification. When cultured on blood agar plates, S. pyogenes will exhibit a zone of inhibition around bacitracin disks, confirming its sensitivity.

This sensitivity is often used clinically to help diagnose infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, such as pharyngitis and skin infections. In contrast, other streptococcal species, like Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B), are resistant to bacitracin, providing a clear distinction for microbiologists in the identification process.

Understanding the sensitivity of Streptococcus pyogenes to bacitracin is important not only for microbiological identification but also for effective clinical management of infections linked with this pathogen.