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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 23) called on the public to be vigilant against infection by community-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), a drug-resistant bacterium.
The appeal was made following the CHP's investigation into a confirmed case of invasive CA-MRSA involving a 90-year-old woman.
The patient, with underlying medical condition, presented with headache and vomiting on May 3. She was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on May 7. Her clinical diagnosis was sinusitis. She is currently in stable condition.
Her pus swab yielded CA-MRSA and her blood culture grew MRSA. She has no recent travel history and her home contact is asymptomatic.
MRSA is a type of Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics. It is a common infection worldwide.
In recent years, many countries have observed MRSA infections in healthy individuals who have not been hospitalised or stayed in other health-care facilities or institutions, nor received medical procedures in the year before the onset of symptoms. They are known as CA-MRSA infections and usually have special patterns of antibiotic resistance.
It is widely recognised that indiscriminate use of antibiotics may contribute to antibiotics resistance, a CHP spokesman said.
People are advised not to use antibiotics without professional medical advice. If they are advised by doctors to take antibiotics, they should take the medicine according to the prescribed frequency and dosage. People should observe good personal hygiene including washing hands with liquid soap frequently.
For further information on CA-MRSA please visit the CHP website at www.chp.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, May 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:18
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