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A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (October 7) provided the latest update on the investigation of septic shock and sepsis cases suspected to be related to procedures received in a beauty treatment centre called DR.
The spokesman said that the blood sample taken from the 46-year-old woman who was admitted to Ruttonjee Hospital (RH) grew Mycobacterium abscessus.
Preliminary blood culture from another 56-year-old woman admitted to RH and the 60-year-old woman admitted to United Christian Hospital also grew presumptive Mycobacterium species. Further identification and testing by the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch under the Centre for Health Protection of DH are still pending.
Other than the 46-year-old woman and the 60-year-old woman who remain in critical condition, the 56-year-old woman is now in serious condition while another 59-year-old woman admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital is in stable condition.
Since DH's hotline (2125 1133) was set up in the evening of October 5, 25 calls were received as of 5pm today. Twelve callers said that they were clients of DR. So far, there are no new cases of septic shock or sepsis suspected to be related to procedures received in the beauty treatment centre.
Joint investigation with the Police is under way.
Ends/Sunday, October 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:05
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