30 Jul 2009
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 30) received a report of a necrotising fasciitis case (flesh-eating disease) involving a 87-year-old man.
The patient lived in Ma On Shan. He presented with right calf swelling and fever on July 27 and was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital on July 28. The patient's condition continued to deteriorate and he passed away yesterday.
Laboratory tests on the tissues from his right ankle yielded Vibrio vulnificus, a type of bacteria causing necrotising fasciitis.
A CHP spokesman said necrotising fasciitis was a serious bacterial infection of the soft tissue and fascia. It could destroy tissue and cause death within 12 to 24 hours after infection.
People are reminded to adopt the following preventive measures:
* Avoid exposure of open wounds or broken skin to seawater or salty water;
* Wounds should be thoroughly cleansed and properly covered;
* Wear thick rubber gloves when handling raw shellfish.
Patients should seek medical advice promptly if they developed symptoms and signs of infection like increasing redness, pain and swelling.