14 Aug 2009
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 14) received a report of a fatal case of necrotising fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) involving a 58-year-old man who had chronic heart disease.
The patient lived in Eastern District. He presented with fever and swelling over the right forearm and hand on August 10. He was admitted to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital on August 12. The patient's condition continued to deteriorate and he passed away yesterday.
Laboratory tests on the tissues from his right forearm 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.