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The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health confirmed today (June 12) a case of New Delhi metallo-£]-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
The female patient aged 76, with good past health, travelled to Xiamen on May 6. She slipped and fell on the same day and was hospitalised in Shenzhen until June 3 when she was transferred to North District Hospital. Subsequently she was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on June 5 for further management.
Her rectal swab grew NDM-1 Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae upon laboratory testing by the PHLSB. She is now in a stable condition. Her home contact remains asymptomatic. Investigations of the CHP are ongoing.
"NDM is an enzyme which can inactivate carbapenems and other beta-lactams such as penicillins. Bacteria harbouring this NDM gene are commonly resistant to multiple antimicrobials, limiting therapeutic options and rendering severe clinical infections difficult to treat. Most bacteria with the NDM enzyme remain susceptible to two types of antibiotics, colistin and tigecycline," a spokesman for the CHP explained.
Infections have varied from being asymptomatic to potentially life-threatening or fatal. The level of risk depends on which part of the body is affected by the infection and the general health of the patient.
The spokesman said that proper use of antibiotics and personal hygiene, especially hand hygiene, are important for the prevention of emergence and cross-transmission of NDM strains.
Ends/Thursday, June 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:59
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