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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 17) investigating a case of pneumonia caused 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 female patient, aged 83 with underlying illnesses, presented with fever, cough and shortness of breath since January 14. She was admitted to a private hospital on January 23.
The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia. She was discharged on January 29 and her condition had been stable all along. Her sputum specimen yielded CA-MRSA upon laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch.
Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient has no recent travel history.
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 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 spokesman for the CHP 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 CA-MRSA page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/5392.html) for further information and preventive advice.
Ends/Monday, February 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:51
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