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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 12) investigating a case of community-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection, a drug-resistant bacterium, and hence appealed to members of the public to stay vigilant against CA-MRSA.
The male patient, aged 39 with good past health, presented with fever, right lower limb pain and swelling since March 2. He was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital on March 4. His clinical diagnosis were septicaemia and right lower limb cellulitis. His condition has been stable all along.
His blood culture yielded CA-MRSA upon laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch.
Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient travelled to Dubai from January 31 to February 7. His 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, 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/Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:23
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