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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (February 28) investigating a case of community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), a drug-resistant bacterium, affecting a woman aged 43, and hence appealed to members of the public to stay vigilant against CA-MRSA.
The patient, with underlying illness, developed headache and collapsed on February 12, and was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on the same day. Upon admission, she was diagnosed as having intracranial haemorrhage and was subsequently transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for further management. She has presented with fever and increase in sputum since February 15.
The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia and she is now in critical condition.
Her endotrachael aspirate yielded CA-MRSA upon laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch.
Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no recent travel history. Her home contact has remained 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 health-care facilities or institutions, or 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/Friday, February 28, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:55
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