title: Streptococcus suis infection in Hong Kong: an emerging infectious disease?
abstract: We conducted a 31-month retrospective review of all laboratory-confirmed Streptococcus suis infections admitted to public hospitals in Hong Kong. Strain identification, serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted on S. suis isolates. Twenty-one sporadic cases were identified, comprising 18 (86%) males and 3 (14%) females. About half were patients aged 65 years. More cases occurred during summer. Occupational exposure was documented in five (24%) cases. The estimated annual incidence was 0.09/100 000 in the general population and 32/100 000 in people with occupational exposure to pigs and raw pork. The primary clinical manifestations were meningitis (48%), septicaemia (38%) and endocarditis (14%). The case-fatality rate was 5%. All available isolates from 15 patients were serotype 2, sensitive to penicillin, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, but resistant to tetracycline. Injury prevention and proper handling of pigs or raw pork should be advocated to both at-risk occupational groups and the general population.
authors.affiliation: Surveillance and Epidemiology Branch, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. smo_ss4@dh.gov.hk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents