Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ8: Community-associated MRSA cases
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuen-han and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (December 13):
Question:
It has been reported that the number of community-associated-methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus infections has been on the rise in recent years. In this
connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of reports on such infections received by the
Government last year and so far this year, with a breakdown by month and source
of infection;
(b) whether the Government will classify such infections as one of the
notifiable infectious diseases; if it will, of the implementation timetable; if
not, the reasons for that; and
(c) of the measures in place to prevent an outbreak of such infections in the
community?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of
Staphylococcus that is resistant to certain antibiotics (including methicillin).
These infections occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and
institutions. Community associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) generally refers to MRSA found
in individuals who have not been hospitalised or resided in other healthcare
facilities within the past year before infection. CA-MRSA is usually spread
through direct contact and causes skin and soft tissue infections. More serious
effects include purulent wound infections and pneumonia.
As of November 30, 2006, Centre for Health Protection (CHP) received 7 and 20
notifications of CA-MRSA infections in 2005 and 2006 respectively. CHP conducts
investigations into every notified case of CA-MRSA. Since the majority of
infections were isolated cases, the source of infections cannot be ascertained.
In some of the cases, the infection was transmitted within family members in the
same household. Monthly figures in these two years are shown in the Table.
(b) We are now considering putting CA-MRSA infections as a statutory notifiable
disease and plan to implement this early next year.
(c) Department of Health (DH) has enhanced the surveillance against CA-MRSA
infections. In early October this year, a "letter to doctor" was sent to all
medical practitioners, alerting them to the local situation of CA-MRSA as well
as the clinical, laboratory and epidemiological features of patients suffering
from CA-MRSA infections. In parallel, letters were sent to all microbiology
laboratories, providing them with the updated information on CA-MRSA infections
in Hong Kong. To provide further support to local laboratories, DH provides free
molecular tests to private laboratories and HA to facilitate the confirmation of
CA-MRSA infections.
The Accident and Emergency Department of HA launched a surveillance programme in
November 2006 to enhance detection and diagnosis of CA-MRSA infections.
For every notified case of CA-MRSA infection, DH will implement a series of
public health investigation and control measures to contain the infection. The
patient's close contacts will be traced and clinical specimens will be taken
from them for testing. Decolonisation therapy, which lasts five days, will also
be given to the patient and his close contacts. Important and specific hygiene
advice will be given to the patient and his close contacts to minimise the risk
of transmission.
DH provides information about CA-MRSA to the community through pamphlets and CHP
website. (http://www.chp.gov.hk/content390e.html?lang=en&info_id=5392&id=24&pid=9)
It also provides updated information to the communtiy through newspaper and
electronic media.
Ends/Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:27
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Attachment:
Table to LCQ8