Journal of Medicine and Life Science

Institute for Medical Science (제주대학교 의과학연구소)
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Streptococcus suis causes bacterial meningitis with hearing loss in patients without direct exposure to pigs in a regional pork industry territory

  • Joong-Goo Kim (Department of Neurology, Jeju National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Gil Myeong Seong (Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Young Ree Kim (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jeju National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Sang Taek Heo (Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jeong Rae Yoo (Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2022.11.03
  • Accepted : 2022.12.14
  • Published : 2023.03.31
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Abstract

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that causes bacterial meningitis in humans. S. suis is an encapsulated gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium and is an important pathogen in pigs. This infectious disease usually manifests in humans as meningitis, endocarditis, septicemia, and arthritis. Most cases originate in Southeast Asia, and human S. suis infections are often reported in countries with a high density of pigs. Meningitis is a common clinical manifestation of S. suis infection. Moreover, hearing loss is a common complication that can be bilateral, profound, and/or permanent. This report presents two cases of bacterial meningitis and hearing loss caused by S. suis in patients without a history of direct exposure to pigs in an intensive pork industry region.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a research grant from Jeju National University Hospital in 2019.

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