Affiliations 

  • 1 Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. gsrajahram@gmail.com
  • 2 Microbiology Unit, Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
  • 3 Clinical Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
  • 4 Jesselton Medical Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
  • 5 Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • 6 Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
BMC Infect Dis, 2017 03 04;17(1):188.
PMID: 28257622 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2294-z

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus Suis (S.suis) is increasingly being recognised as a potentially preventable emerging zoonotic infection in humans with a global distribution. It is a major cause of meningitis especially among those in contact with pigs and has also been associated with a toxic shock syndrome.

CASE PRESENTATIONS: We report the first two human cases from Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia which expands the global reach of this important pathogen. Here, we illustrate their epidemiological risk factors, clinical presentation and resulting sequelae of both patients.

CONCLUSION: The continued public health threat of zoonotic infections such as S.suis, highlights the need for accurate epidemiological surveillance, regulation of pig farming, slaughtering and continued advocacy of best practices for pork preparation and consumption.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.