Septic arthritis caused by Streptococcus suis serotype 2

A case of septic arthritis and septicaemia due to Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is reported. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which the causative organism has been isolated from the joint-fluid. Involvement of joints is a feature of S. suis infection in pigs, and may be more common in human beings than previously realised. Infectious arthritis caused by beta-haemolytic streptococci may be due to S. suis and result from contact with pigs or raw pork.