12 days before entering the hospital, the patient processed pig meat. After a day, the patient developed a high fever and purpura on the skin. The patient was taken to a medical facility near his home and transferred to the Provincial General Hospital in the following condition: high fever, consciousness disorder, low blood pressure. The patient was intubated on a ventilator and on dialysis. Although the patient was actively resuscitated for a week, his condition did not improve, progressing to multiple organ failure and severe coagulation disorders. Blood culture results showed Streptococcus suis (swine streptococcus bacteria).
The patient was transferred to the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in a state of mechanical ventilation, maintained on high doses of vasopressors, many bleeding patches on the skin, gastrointestinal bleeding, and anuria. The patient continues to be maintained on mechanical ventilation, continuous dialysis, and transfusion of appropriate blood products and antibiotics.
MSc. Dr. Phan Van Manh - Emergency Department - said: Swine streptococcus disease can occur in any healthy person, research shows that it may be more common in patients who abuse alcohol. Patients with immunodeficiency, many underlying diseases, and advanced age are more likely to have severe disease.
Dr. Manh also further informed: Common swine streptococcus disease will cause two main diseases: septicemia and meningitis. This patient had a lumbar puncture and meningitis was ruled out. However, in this patient, sepsis progressed very quickly and caused many serious consequences such as blood clotting disorders and prolonged multi-organ failure.
During contact with pigs, people should pay special attention to wearing gloves and masks. The nature of streptococcus bacteria is that it colonizes the respiratory tract of pigs, so there is nothing that can eliminate that bacteria, the only way is to prevent it to limit infection to humans. There is currently no vaccine to prevent swine streptococcus disease, so it is very important to eat cooked food and drink boiled water. Absolutely do not eat dead or sick pigs; Do not eat uncooked pig products, especially pig blood pudding.
