Septic shock caused by Streptococcus suis:: Case report and investigation of a risk group

A case of septic shock caused by Streptococcus suis type 2 occurred in a 36-year-old truck driver who transported pigs. Here, as well as in nearly all other cases of S. suis infections reported to date, close occupational contact with pork or pigs preceded the incident. This epidemiological link may be explained by the frequent occurrence of S. suis as a commensal and opportunistic germ in pigs. In order to assess the potential risk for an infection with S. suis, 132 workers in pig slaughtering, pork dissecting and processing industries were examined in a cross sectional study for the occurrence of S. suis in their pharynx, and compared with an age and sex matched control group. The evaluation of the pharyngeal swabs showed an atypical colonisation by a variety of microorganisms in some of the employees who were so far healthy, but potentially at risk. The colonisation of the case group with S. suis amounted to 5.3%.