鏈球菌屬為重要人畜共通傳染病，會引起人類敗血症、腦膜炎和失去聽力等疾病。大多數病例發生在屠宰場工作人員和豬肉加工、烹飪等人員。直接因素是暴露到帶有病菌的動物體。本文為2001年間對台灣屠宰業勞工進行鏈球菌相關之調查結果。勞工基本資料、工作史、暴露因素及疑似症狀等以問卷訪視取得，盛行情形以抗體反應及口腔鏈球菌帶原估算，並統計分析工作之關聯性。血清抗體以豬鏈球菌菌株作為抗原測試。體表拭子及口腔拭子檢體於採集後24小時內塗抹血液平板，計算生長出的總菌落數，並根據菌落形態、溶血性等特性估算鏈球菌數，計算百分比，並挑選代表菌落進行檢驗。總共訪視4家屠宰場，其現場清洗方式相似，血平板培養環境落下菌之偵測結果顯示屠宰區之落菌量比辦公區高，各場的差異也頗懸殊。受訪勞工問卷資料及檢體完整的共118人。其中暴露勞工76人、非暴露勞工42人，性別、年齡、年資及吸菸喝酒等特性無顯著差異，工作史及工作場所飲食衛生習慣亦無顯著群間差異。疾病史統計結果顯示蜂窩性組織炎佔1.7％（2人），心臟辦膜疾病6.8%（8人）；鏈球菌感染相關症狀在暴露組與非暴露組無顯著差異。咳嗽及黃色痰液等症狀及口腔鏈球菌百分比統計結果均顯示顯著之場間差異（p＜0.05）。
血清檢驗結果顯示抗標準豬鏈球菌反應陽性率高達為99.2%（117人）。暴露組與非暴露組體表鏈球菌百分率分別為0.5±1.4及1.1±2.5（％）；口腔則高達60.4±17.6及67.5±16.9（％），且後者有顯著組間差異。進一步將暴露組分群，發現接觸屠體的勞工群以及工作場所飲食前未洗手之勞工分群，口腔鏈球菌的百分率均較高，呈現邊緣性顯著（p＝0.052）。綜合結果顯示台灣屠宰場勞工豬鏈球菌暴露嚴重，且與工作場所衛生及個人工作衛生習慣有關，應注意環境衛生及個人衛生。

Streptococcus is important in the zoonoses. It may cause pneumonia, polyserositis, meningitis,abscessation, cellulitis and valvular endocarditis. Workers of animal industry may be exposed to zoonic pathogens when expose to the animal bodies as suspective carriers.A survey of streptococcal exposure was studied within 2001, in the abattoir workers in Taiwan.The basic information, including work history, exposed factors and the doubtful symptom were obtained by questionnaire. High-risk workers might be respected by analyzing the relationships of the
results of examination and work types, trials from questionnaires etc. Streptococcus suis was used as the test strain. Exposure conditions were evaluated by serum titers and carrier state of workers were examined by swabbing the throat and skin. Groups of Streptococcus were swabbed in 24 hrs and examined by cultures on blood agar plates. The percentage was calculated by the colonies which were judged by the morphological characteristics and hemolytic properties after incubation.Overall, surveys of 4 abattoirs were in similar sanitary operation procedures. It shows that the number of colonies of Streptococcus suis counted from the fallen bacteria in the abattoir area is higher than the office area. In total, there are 118 workers with complete questionnaires, blood sample and swab samples. Among 76 workers in the exposed group, and 42 of the non-exposed group,high incidences of cellulitis and valvular endocarditis, were 1.7% (2) and 6.8% (8), respectively. No statistical significance in data from questionnaires was shown between the susceptive syndromes and-5 carrier state. The results indicate that the cough and phlegm are related with the oral S. suis (p<0.05).Additionally, it shows 99.2% (117) positive rate in antibody test. A higher carrier rate was observed in exposed group both on the hand surface and oral swab, as 60.4±17.6 and 67.5±16.9 (％) in percentage, otherwise, of the unexposed group as 0.5±1.4 and 1.1±2.4 (％), respectively. It shows a significant difference in the result of oral swab (p＝0.033, ANOVA). Furthermore, from the results of work jobs, it suggest that contact to the internal organs of pig might be a high risk factor (p＝0.052,ANOVA).In conclusion, workers in slaughter house have been exposed to swine Streptococcus, and a part of them were possibly infected.