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Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (June 27):
Question:
It has been reported that a study conducted by the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in the local community in 2004 found that, among the women suffering from urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the community, the bacteria in 7% of them were drug resistant. According to the findings of a study conducted jointly by the above department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in 2002, E. coli found in some food animals exhibited very strong drug resistance. Since the genetic sequencing of the E. coli found in the above two studies is exactly the same, it is likely that such bacteria have infected human beings through the food chain. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the details of the above study conducted by FEHD and HKU in 2002, and whether FEHD had taken any follow-up actions upon the completion of the study; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) whether it knows that certain countries (e.g. the United States) have set up mechanisms for monitoring the problem of food animals carrying drug-resistant bacteria, and of the details of the mechanisms concerned; and
(c) whether it will consider setting up a similar monitoring mechanism in Hong Kong; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President:
(a) In the study on Escherichia coli Producing CTX-M £]-Lactamases in Food Animals in Hong Kong undertaken by Hong Kong University in 2002, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) was mainly responsible for helping to collect samples from cattle and pigs at the slaughterhouse for the study. The department was not involved in any testing or analytical work.
The focus of the study rarely features in other studies in this field. The study also noted that the possibility of antimicrobial resistant bacteria being spread along the food chain remained unclear. When further studies or more reliable findings are available, the FEHD will take follow-up actions. At present, the FEHD has already put in place a regular surveillance mechanism to monitor veterinary drug residues in food animals at local slaughterhouses, in order to monitor whether the farms are using veterinary drugs properly and to prevent abuse of antibiotics.
(b) From information available in the public domain, we note that some countries including the United States, Canada and Australia, have set up surveillance programmes on antimicrobial resistance. For details, please go to the following websites of the relevant agencies:
United States
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/narms_pg.html
Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/cipars-picra/index.html
Australia
http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/food/regulation-safety/antimicrobial-resistance
(c) To monitor the presence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in local food animals, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) conducts regular inspections at livestock farms to check their hygiene and health conditions. Upon discovery of any unusual animal deaths, AFCD staff will send the sick animals to veterinary laboratory for tests, pathogen isolation and antibiotic sensitivity tests on the bacteria identified, including E. Coli. So far, the AFCD has not found any animal disease caused by E. Coli that cannot be treated by antibiotics. Therefore, we do not have any plan to set up new surveillance mechanism on top of the present arrangements.
Ends/Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:00
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