24 October 2014
The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 24) confirmed a case of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-5 (NDM-5) Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
The female patient aged 59 was admitted to Yan Chai Hospital on October 6 for her underlying illness. She was discharged on October 9 in stable condition.
Her rectal swab grew NDM-5 Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae upon laboratory testing by the PHLSB. This case has been classified as colonisation.
Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had travelled to Guangdong from September 24 to October 5 with hospitalisation from September 27 to 29. The CHP's investigations 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.