Streptococcus suis infection in Thailand.
This is a retrospective study of Streptococcus suis infection in humans submitted to the National Streptococcal Referrence Center of Thailand from 1994 to 2001. There were 11 men and 6 women whose mean age was 46.24 years (range 1 month to 75 years). Among the men, two had known occupational and behavioral exposure to pork or meat products. Among the women, one was a butcher and three were housewives. Half of the patients had underlying diseases. One patient had congenital hydrocephalus, three patients had rheumatic heart disease and three were alcoholics. Two of these patients had a history of skin injury before infection. Nine patients had evidence of acute bacterial meningitis, four patients had infective endocarditis, two had the sepsis syndrome and two suffered from pneumonia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The authors suspected that many cases are not reported particularly where pig-rearing or pork consumption are common. In the absence of an effective vaccine, prevention by public health surveillance is important. Prompt treatment of any cuts and wounds among pork-handlers is a sensible precaution. Furthermore, a high index of suspicion and early detection in order to identify and apply effective antimicrobial agents is necessary to successfully treat S. suis infection.
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ratha-Korn
RK
Vilaichone
Warakarn
W
Vilaichone
Pongpun
P
Nunthapisud
Henry
H
Wilde
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents