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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 25) investigating a case of infection by Streptococcus suis, a kind of bacteria isolated from pigs, affecting a 57-year-old man.
The patient, with good past health, had developed fever, myalgia and confusion since April 21 and was subsequently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Prince of Wales Hospital on April 23.
The clinical diagnosis is sepsis with meningitis. He was transferred to the general ward yesterday (April 24) and is currently in stable condition.
His blood and cerebrospinal fluid specimens grew Streptococcus suis.
The patient had no recent travel history and his home contacts remain asymptomatic.
A CHP spokesman explained that Streptococcus suis infections may present as meningitis (inflammation of the membrane enclosing the brain), septicaemia (bloodstream infection), and less commonly endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers), arthritis and bronchopneumonia (a kind of lung infection involving the bronchioles). Streptococcus suis infections can be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
To prevent Streptococcus suis infections, members of the public are advised to always practise personal and environmental hygiene. They should avoid contact with pigs that are sick or dead from diseases and their excreta or body fluid. If contact with pigs or raw pork is necessary, one should:
* Use protective gloves;
* Wash hands after handling pigs or raw pork; and
* Clean and cover all wounds properly.
Members of the public with suspected symptoms should consult their doctors as soon as possible and report their relevant exposure histories.
They may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) for more information on Streptococcus suis.
Ends/Thursday, April 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:59
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