30 July 2014
The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health confirmed today (July 30) a case of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
The patient is a 49-year-old woman with good past health. She was admitted to a hospital in Dongguan, Guangdong, on July 16 due to headache and vomiting. She returned to Hong Kong on July 17 and was admitted to North District Hospital for treatment on the same day. She was later transferred to a private hospital on July 19. Her current condition is stable.
Her rectal swab grew NDM-1 Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae upon laboratory testing by the PHLSB.
The patient's home contacts have remained asymptomatic. Investigations by the CHP are proceeding.
"NDM is an enzyme which can deactivate 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 said.
Infections have varied from being asymptomatic to being 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.