The head of an industry body for traditional Chinese medicine practitioners has said it is still too soon to jump to any conclusions after a Hongkonger suffered a “flesh-eating infection” and had his leg amputated following an acupuncture treatment, stressing that the risk involved is low.
Chan Wing-kwong, chairman of the Hong Kong Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association, said on Wednesday that the case revealed by health authorities the previous day could be an isolated incident, adding that the patient had underlying illnesses.
“Residents do not need to be worried when they receive an acupuncture treatment by registered traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, as we have certain anti-infection guidelines and procedures,” Chan said during a radio programme.
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“This is an isolated incident. Based on the available information, this is the first time such an incident has occurred in Hong Kong ... Before the case is fully investigated, our comments and judgments will be unfair to the practitioner and patient.”
The Centre for Health Protection announced on Tuesday that the Hong Kong man, 47, had undergone an amputation of his left lower leg two days after he contracted Group A Streptococcal bacteria and was diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, following acupuncture treatment he received at two traditional Chinese medicine clinics.
Necrotising fasciitis is commonly known as “flesh-eating infection”.
Department of Health personnel investigated the acupuncture treatment premises, reviewed procedures and collected environmental samples from one practitioner. It discovered that one environmental sample tested positive for Group A Streptococcus, which matched that of the affected patient’s sample.
The department added that during its investigation, its team suspected that the traditional Chinese medicine practitioner involved had not “strictly followed infection control procedures”.
A genetic analysis to identify the source of infection was still ongoing.
“I believe that the Chinese medicine practitioner does not only see one patient a day. They would see many of them and perform acupuncture on them as well,” Chan said. “The issue has only occurred with one patient, so we must investigate to see whether this was the fault of the Chinese medicine practitioner.”
Chan, also a lawmaker, said that traditional Chinese medicine practitioners took multiple steps to prevent infection when performing acupuncture.
The steps include sterilising the treatment area with alcohol, washing their hands, using single-use needles and ensuring their hands do not touch the tip of the needle.
These measures even extended to the beds to conduct treatments, with practitioners using single-use bedsheets or performing sterilisation before they are used again.
Group A Streptococcus bacteria are considered the most common cause of flesh-eating infection, which can enter the body through a wound in the skin and can be transmitted by droplets and physical contact.
It can cause mild diseases in healthy people, but the risk to the elderly and people with chronic illnesses like diabetes is higher, according to the Department of Health, which has called on the public to maintain good hygiene and take good care of wounds.
More from South China Morning Post:
- Hong Kong man suffers ‘flesh-eating’ infection after acupuncture, leg amputated
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