Streptococcus oralis
What does it mean if your Streptococcus oralis result is too high?
Streptococcus oralis Elevated
Taxonomic Classification
- Kingdom: Bacteria
- Phylum: Firmicutes
- Class: Bacilli
- Order: Lactobacillales
- Family: Streptococcaceae
- Genus: Streptococcus
- Species: S. oralis
Description
Streptococcus oralis is a gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic coccus that is a natural part of the human microbiota in both the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. It belongs to the Streptococcus mitis group, a collection of closely related streptococcal species known for their commensal relationship with humans.
Key Characteristics
- Alpha-hemolytic on blood agar.
- Non-motile and non-spore-forming.
- Capable of biofilm formation, contributing to dental plaque.
- Produces neuraminidase, an enzyme that may enhance virulence.
Ecological Niche
Oral Microbiome
S. oralis is an early colonizer of dental plaque and plays a role in:
- Establishing initial biofilm formation on tooth surfaces.
- Facilitating the attachment of other bacterial species.
- Contributing to the overall microbial diversity in the oral cavity.
Gut Microbiome
In the gut, S. oralis is part of a complex microbial community that:
- Supports digestive health.
- Contributes to the metabolism of certain nutrients.
- Helps maintain microbial balance in the gut ecosystem.
Clinical Significance
Opportunistic Pathogen in Immunocompromised Hosts
- Can cause bacteremia and infective endocarditis.
- May lead to septicemia in neutropenic patients.
Disruptions in the Microbiome
- Overgrowth can occur after antibiotic treatment, leading to dysbiosis.
- Can contribute to microbial imbalances in both oral and gut environments.
Oral Health Implications
- While less cariogenic than S. mutans, it may contribute to dental caries in some cases.
- Implicated in periodontal disease progression.
Potential for Systemic Infections
- Rare cases of meningitis and pneumonia have been reported.
Management and Considerations
Antibiotic Susceptibility
- Generally susceptible to penicillin and other beta-lactam antibiotics.
- Resistance patterns should be monitored, as antibiotic resistance among streptococci is increasing.
Microbiome Balance
- Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle supports microbiome balance.
- Probiotics may help restore microbial equilibrium after antibiotic treatment.
Oral Hygiene Practices
- Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups are essential.
- Antimicrobial mouthwashes may help control bacterial levels.
Immune System Support
- Immunocompromised individuals should take extra precautions to prevent opportunistic infections.
Conclusion
Streptococcus oralis plays a dual role as both a beneficial commensal and a potential opportunistic pathogen. Elevated levels may indicate an imbalance in the microbiome or an underlying health condition. Understanding its ecological role and pathogenic potential is essential for proper management, especially in vulnerable populations. Ongoing research continues to explore its impact on human health, highlighting the importance of maintaining microbial balance in both oral and gut environments.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.