Case Report: Streptococcus suis Human Infections among Pork Consumers in Jeju, South Korea: Zoonotic Threats

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 111; no. 6; pp. 1243 - 1246
• Main Authors: Kim, Eui Tae, Heo, Sang Taek, Yoo, Jeong Rae, Kim, Misun, Kim, Tae Hyoung, Kim, Young Ree
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Institute of Tropical Medicine 04.12.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animals; Bacterial infections; Bacterial Zoonoses - epidemiology; Bacterial Zoonoses - microbiology; Bacterial Zoonoses - transmission; Case reports; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pork Meat - microbiology; Red Meat - microbiology; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Sepsis - epidemiology; Sepsis - microbiology; Streptococcal Infections - epidemiology; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcus infections; Streptococcus suis - isolation & purification; Swine; Zoonoses - epidemiology; Zoonoses - microbiology; Republic of Korea; South Korea
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0201

Streptococcus suis , a bacterium commonly found in pigs, causes infections in humans through direct contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated pork products. Recently, a localized outbreak of S. suis infection in humans resulted in three confirmed cases. All three patients had some form of contact with pigs in their medical history. One patient worked at a pig farm, whereas the other two consumed raw pork soup at the same restaurant. The patients were diagnosed with septicemia, subdural empyema, and infectious spondylitis. Streptococcus suis was isolated from their blood. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical features of three patients with S. suis infection and perform a molecular biological analysis of the strains obtained from them. Subsequent investigations highlighted the potential sources for this rare but serious infection and provided insight into preventive measures.