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The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has identified a case of New Delhi metallo-£]-lactamase (NDM) Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae in an 11-month-old boy.
The patient, with good past health, lives in Dongguan in the Mainland. He presented with fever, cough and diarrhoea since mid-April. He was admitted to a hospital in Dongguan from April 24 to 28 for treatment of pneumonia.
Because of persistent symptoms, he was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) from May 2 to 3. His stool specimen collected on May 2 tested positive for NDM Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae as confirmed by the PHLSB on May 12.
He was readmitted to TMH on May 10 for treatment. He is now in a stable condition.
His home contacts had no symptoms of infection.
Investigation by the CHP is continuing.
This is the seventh detected case of NDM Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae in Hong Kong.
The spokesman explained that NDM is an enzyme which can inactivate carbapenems and other beta-lactams such as penicillins. Bacteria harbouring this NDM gene are commonly resistant to multiple antimicrobials, limiting therapeutic options and rendering severe clinical infections difficult to treat. Most bacteria with the NDM enzyme remain susceptible to two types of antibiotics, colistin and tigecycline.
Infections have varied from being asymptomatic to potentially life-threatening or fatal. The level of risk depends on which part of the body is affected by the infection, and the general health of the patient.
NDM producing Enterobacteriaceae was first reported in a Swedish patient of Indian origin who travelled to New Delhi, India, in 2008. The first fatal case was identified in 2010 in a patient who received medical treatment in Pakistan before being repatriated to Belgium.
NDM producing Enterobacteriaceae has now been reported in many countries and regions including Australia, Austria, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Sweden, Singapore, Taiwan, the UK and the US. Most patients had prior hospital contact in the Indian subcontinent.
The spokesman said that proper use of antibiotics and personal hygiene, especially hand hygiene, are important for the prevention of emergence and cross transmission of NDM strains.
Ends/Monday, May 14, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:01
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