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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 14) investigating a case of community-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection which affected a 10-year-old girl, and hence appealed to members of the public to stay vigilant against CA-MRSA.
The patient, with good past health, has presented with fever and right hip pain since July 27. She was admitted to United Christian Hospital on July 29 and was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on the same day. Her clinical diagnosis was septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. She is now in stable condition.
Her blood culture yielded CA-MRSA upon laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the patient had no recent travel history. Her home contacts were asymptomatic. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.
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 other health-care facilities or institutions, nor received medical procedures in the year before the onset of symptoms. The cases 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 CHP spokesman 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/Thursday, August 14, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:22
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