A little-known strep bacteria is causing a growing number of potentially deadly infections and is disproportionately affecting Indigenous Australians .

Researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity have studied infections of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE), a close cousin of group A strep, and found it's rising at markedly different rates across parts of the country.

Both infections cause skin and soft tissue infections and, in severe cases, can invade the blood and organs and become life-threatening.

Lead author Dr Ouli Xir from the University of Melbourne said SDSE had previously been considered a "minor player" compared to group A strep, but the study proved it was causing "a significant and rising burden of severe disease in Au

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