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Meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis in humans

J P Arends1, H C Zanen

  • 1Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam.

Reviews of Infectious Diseases
|January 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Streptococcus suis meningitis primarily affects pork industry workers, with type 2 being most common. Hearing loss is a frequent complication in survivors of this serious bacterial infection.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Streptococcus suis is an emerging zoonotic pathogen.
  • Meningitis is a severe manifestation of Streptococcus suis infection.
  • The epidemiology of Streptococcus suis meningitis in the pork industry requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of Streptococcus suis meningitis in the Netherlands.
  • To compare Dutch cases with international data.
  • To estimate the risk of Streptococcus suis meningitis in pork industry workers.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 30 Streptococcus suis meningitis cases in the Netherlands (1968-1984).
  • Comparison with 30 international cases of Streptococcus suis type 2 meningitis (1968-1985).
  • Calculation of annual incidence rates for pork industry workers.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-eight of 30 Dutch strains were Streptococcus suis type 2.
  • Most patients (83%) worked in the pork industry, with an average age of 49.
  • Hearing loss was the most common sequela (54% of survivors); mortality was 7%.

Conclusions:

  • Streptococcus suis meningitis predominantly affects adult males in the pork industry.
  • The risk for Dutch abattoir workers and pig breeders is significantly elevated (approx. 3.0/100,000 annually).
  • Early recognition and preventative measures are crucial for this occupational hazard.

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