Suppurative Meningitis Complicated with Arthritis Caused by Streptococcus Suis Infection: A Case Report

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a common gram-positive bacterium in pigs. Its natural infection sites are the upper respiratory tract (especially tonsils and nasal cavity), reproductive tract and digestive tract of pigs. It is a new emerging human and animal disease. A co-morbid pathogen that can cause serious infections in humans, including meningitis, sepsis, septic arthritis, and sometimes deafness. No cases have been reported in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China.

A 50-year-old male patient who had Worked as a butcher in a slaughterhouse for 20 years. Admitted to the hospital due to abdominal pain, joint pain, fever, and headache.His condition rapidly worsened causing altered consciousness, drowsiness and developed hearing loss. S. suis induced pyogenic meningitis complicated by arthritis was suspected based on the results of biochemical and culture analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing, The patient's symptoms significantly improved after treatment with antibiotics such as ceftriaxone, meropenem, and linezolid, as well as supportive therapies including steroids and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and his hearing improved significantly.After about 2 years of follow-up, the hearing was significantly better than before, but hearing impairment still remained.

Streptococcus suis is endemic in pork-consuming and pig-raising countries, but can occur throughout the world, especially among individuals with occupational exposure to pigs and/or pork, such as slaughterhouse workers, butchers, farmers, etc. Strengthen science education among key groups. This case was diagnosed as Streptococcus suis meningitis combined with arthritis. However, abdominal pain in the early stage of the disease is very rare and is easy to be misdiagnosed. It is necessary to identify whether it is complicated by peritonitis. For hearing loss caused by Streptococcus suis infection, the use of hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment has obvious therapeutic effects.