Case Report of Human Streptococcus suis Infections, Taiwan, 2018–2019

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.201909_35(17).0001

Kung-Ching Wang^1,3*, Meng-Yu Chen^2,3, Hsin-Yi Wei^2,3, Zhi-Jie Ding¹, Xiang-Ting Huang², Yi-Ting Yang²

2019 Vol.35 NO.17

Correspondence Author： Kung-Ching Wang^1,3*

Abstract：

From August 2018 to June 2019, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control was notified of two cases of Streptococcus suis (S. suis) infections. Case 1, a restaurant food vendor, presented septicemia with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, accompanied with right-sided hearing loss. Case 2, a retired person, presented meningitis and bilateral hearing loss. Blood culture (Case 1) and cerebral spinal fluid culture (Case 2) both yielded S. suis serotype 2. S. suis is an emerging zoonosis in pigs and humans. Risk factors of human S. suis infections include occupational exposure to pigs or pork and raw pork consumption. Meningitis is the most common clinical manifestation, with the fatality rate of 0–33%. The most common sequela is hearing loss, with 54%–80% suffering from high frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Currently, a human vaccine is not available. Preventive measures such as good hygiene practices, wearing personal protective equipment during the process of pork operation, and thoroughly cooking of pork should prevent the majority of infections.