Man infected, necrosis spread rapidly throughout body due to eating pig intestines

On April 14, the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases informed that the hospital's doctors had just received a male patient TVL, (49 years old, living in Thai Binh), in a state of hemorrhagic necrosis on the face spreading rapidly throughout the body and mainly concentrated on the legs and arms due to streptococcus suis infection.

The initial cause was determined to be related to Mr. L. eating pig intestines about a week before.

The patient's family said that on April 13, Mr. L. suddenly had a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius, chills, severe abdominal pain, and loose stools up to eight times a day. His body was exhausted, aching all over, and his blood pressure dropped sharply. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, had to be intubated, had to maintain vasomotor function, and was then urgently transferred to the Intensive Care Center (Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases).

At the hospital, patient L. was diagnosed with Streptococcus suis - a dangerous bacteria that can be transmitted from pigs to humans through undercooked food or open wounds.

Doctor Dong Phu Khiem - Deputy Director of the Intensive Care Center said that the patient was admitted to the hospital in a state of septic shock, with widespread hemorrhagic necrotizing rash throughout the body, especially on the face and limbs. After that, the patient was treated with antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, blood filtration and transfusion of necessary blood products (platelets, fresh plasma). However, the patient's condition is still very serious, with a poor prognosis and a high risk of death.

Dr. Khiem said that there is currently no vaccine to prevent streptococcal suis infection. If not detected and treated promptly, the disease can leave serious sequelae such as deafness, nerve damage or multiple organ failure. Therefore, early diagnosis and timely treatment are key factors in improving treatment effectiveness and reducing mortality from streptococcal suis infection.

For prevention, doctors recommend that people absolutely do not eat blood pudding, pig intestines or any other undercooked pork products. When buying meat, choose products with clear origins, avoid meat with unusual color, signs of swelling or bleeding. People involved in slaughtering and processing pork must wear gloves, masks and clean their hands after contact.

In case people have open wounds on their hands or feet, they need to cover them with waterproof gauze before handling raw food. In addition, with ready-to-eat food bought from stores, people should blanch it in boiling water or cook it thoroughly before eating to ensure food safety and hygiene.