Streptococcus suis: An Emerging Human Pathogen

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 48; no. 5; pp. 617 - 625
• Main Authors: Hughes, James M., Wilson, Mary E., Wertheim, Heiman F. L., Nghia, Ho Dang Trung, Taylor, Walter, Schultsz, Constance
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford The University of Chicago Press 01.03.2009; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Asia, Southeastern - epidemiology; Bacterial meningitis; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical medicine; Disease Outbreaks; Disease transmission; Emerging Infections; Hearing Loss; Hogs; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Meningitis; Meningitis - epidemiology; Meningitis - microbiology; Pathogens; Pneumococcal meningitis; Pork; Sepsis - epidemiology; Sepsis - microbiology; Streptococcal Infections - complications; Streptococcal Infections - epidemiology; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcus infections; Streptococcus suis; Streptococcus suis - isolation & purification; Swine; Swine Diseases - microbiology; Swine Diseases - transmission; Virulence; Zoonoses - epidemiology; Zoonoses - microbiology; Asia, Southeastern; Southeast Asia; Human; Infection; Streptococcaceae; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Streptococcus suis
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/596763

Streptococcus suis infection is acquired through exposure to contaminated pigs or pig meat. Over the past few years, the number of reported S. suis infections in humans has increased significantly, with most cases originating in Southeast Asia, where there is a high density of pigs. Increased awareness, improved diagnostics, and the occurrence of outbreaks have contributed to this increase. Meningitis and sepsis are the most common clinical manifestations of S. suis infection; hearing loss is a frequent complication. In this article, we provide an overview of the emergence and clinical manifestations of S. suis infection.