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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 17) investigating a case of invasive infection by community-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), a drug-resistant bacterium, and hence appealed to members of the public to stay vigilant against CA-MRSA.
The 96-year-old female patient, with good past health, presented with fever and shortness of breath on May 28. She was admitted to a private hospital on May 29.
The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and she is currently in stable condition. Her blood culture yielded CA-MRSA.
Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient has no recent travel history and her home contacts are all asymptomatic so far.
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.
The public may visit the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk) for further information on CA-MRSA.
Ends/Monday, June 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:51
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