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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 9) investigating a case of necrotising fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) involving a 55-year-old woman.
The patient, with an underlying medical condition, presented with fever and right leg pain since August 5. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of United Christian Hospital (UCH) on August 6 and was diagnosed as having necrotising fasciitis and septic shock. She was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit after an operation and she is now in serious condition.
According the UCH test results, the patient's right leg wound, right leg skin tissue and right leg fascia tissue yielded Vibrio vulnificus, a type of bacteria causing necrotising fasciitis.
The patient has no recent travel history and her family contacts remain asymptomatic. Investigations by the CHP are proceeding.
A CHP spokesman explained that necrotising fasciitis is a serious bacterial infection of the soft tissue and fascia. It can destroy tissue and cause death within 12 to 24 hours after infection.
Members of the public are reminded to take heed of the following preventive measures:
* Avoid foot or leg contact with dirty water when visiting wet markets;
* Avoid exposure of open wounds or broken skin to seawater or salty water;
* Wounds should be thoroughly cleaned and properly covered; and
* Wear thick rubber gloves when handling raw shellfish.
Patients should seek medical advice promptly if symptoms and signs of infection, such as increasing redness, pain and swelling, develop.
Ends/Friday, August 9, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:31
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