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MRSA carriers face serious threat from swine flu, scientist warns
FLU OUTBREAK
Ella Lee
Jul 17, 2009
Hundreds of Hong Kong people carrying the drug-resistant superbug MRSA were at risk of complications that could kill them if they contracted swine flu, a leading microbiologist said yesterday.
Ho Pak-leung, of the University of Hong Kong, said that the swine flu virus and MRSA - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - together could swiftly kill lung tissues.
More than 600 people have been found infected by MRSA since it was made a notifiable disease in January 2007, and Professor Ho said they would carry the bacteria for years after the initial infection.
"They should seek medical advice promptly if they have flu signs, and should consider taking swine flu vaccines," he said.
He said the dead Filipino sailor found to have been suffering from the double infection was probably an MRSA carrier already.
"What could have happened was that when he got swine flu, the infection increased the activities of the MRSA in his body. The bacteria and the virus worked together and attacked his lungs."
The Centre for Health Protection said earlier that the seaman had tested positive for both the swine flu virus and the bacteria.
MRSA can be contracted in hospital or be "community-acquired" - defined as an infection of a patient who has not been admitted to hospital in the previous year.
Centre controller Thomas Tsang Ho-fai said yesterday that obese people also faced a higher risk.
Of six Hong Kong patients who have developed complications, at least two are overweight.
Dr Tsang said a 34-year-old man who was in serious condition at Tuen Mun Hospital had a body mass index over 35, indicating severe obesity.
A medical source said a 23-year-old woman in critical condition at Prince of Wales Hospital was also overweight.
Her condition had improved slightly yesterday.
"She does not need an artificial ventilator and her condition has improved after taking Tamiflu," the source said.
Doctors say obese people have weak heart and lung functions.
At United Christian Hospital, doctors were trying to save the life of a 37-year-old Filipino domestic helper with swine flu who remained in critical condition.
The hospital's chief executive, Luk Che-chung, said the medical team had put the patient on a machine called an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation system.
The machine works like an artificial lung that circulates blood outside the body to oxygenate it and pumps it back into the bloodstream.
The patient was given antiviral Tamiflu and Relenza. Dr Luk said she had a poor response to Relenza.
Professor Ho said overseas experience had indicated that swine flu had first struck healthy adults, then children and pregnant women.
The six people severely ill with the virus
Case one: Woman, 53, admitted to hospital yesterday, now in Tuen Mun Hospital
Condition: Serious
High risk factors: unknown
Case two: Woman, 23, a university student, admitted to hospital on Tuesday, now in intensive care unit at Prince of Wales Hospital
Condition: serious
High risk factors: none
Case three: Woman, 48, admitted to hospital on Wednesday, now in intensive care at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Condition: Critical
High risk factors: chronic smoking
Case four: Man, 76, admitted on July 5; in Prince of Wales Hospital
Condition: stable
High risk factors: chronic pulmonary disease
Case five: Woman, 37, a domestic helper from the Philippines, admitted to hospital on July 7, now in intensive care at United Christian Hospital
Condition: Critical
High risk factors: none
Case six: Man, 34, admitted to hospital on Saturday, now in Tuen Mun Hospital
Condition: Serious
High risk factors: severe obesity
FLU OUTBREAK
Ella Lee
Jul 17, 2009
Hundreds of Hong Kong people carrying the drug-resistant superbug MRSA were at risk of complications that could kill them if they contracted swine flu, a leading microbiologist said yesterday.
Ho Pak-leung, of the University of Hong Kong, said that the swine flu virus and MRSA - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - together could swiftly kill lung tissues.
More than 600 people have been found infected by MRSA since it was made a notifiable disease in January 2007, and Professor Ho said they would carry the bacteria for years after the initial infection.
"They should seek medical advice promptly if they have flu signs, and should consider taking swine flu vaccines," he said.
He said the dead Filipino sailor found to have been suffering from the double infection was probably an MRSA carrier already.
"What could have happened was that when he got swine flu, the infection increased the activities of the MRSA in his body. The bacteria and the virus worked together and attacked his lungs."
The Centre for Health Protection said earlier that the seaman had tested positive for both the swine flu virus and the bacteria.
MRSA can be contracted in hospital or be "community-acquired" - defined as an infection of a patient who has not been admitted to hospital in the previous year.
Centre controller Thomas Tsang Ho-fai said yesterday that obese people also faced a higher risk.
Of six Hong Kong patients who have developed complications, at least two are overweight.
Dr Tsang said a 34-year-old man who was in serious condition at Tuen Mun Hospital had a body mass index over 35, indicating severe obesity.
A medical source said a 23-year-old woman in critical condition at Prince of Wales Hospital was also overweight.
Her condition had improved slightly yesterday.
"She does not need an artificial ventilator and her condition has improved after taking Tamiflu," the source said.
Doctors say obese people have weak heart and lung functions.
At United Christian Hospital, doctors were trying to save the life of a 37-year-old Filipino domestic helper with swine flu who remained in critical condition.
The hospital's chief executive, Luk Che-chung, said the medical team had put the patient on a machine called an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation system.
The machine works like an artificial lung that circulates blood outside the body to oxygenate it and pumps it back into the bloodstream.
The patient was given antiviral Tamiflu and Relenza. Dr Luk said she had a poor response to Relenza.
Professor Ho said overseas experience had indicated that swine flu had first struck healthy adults, then children and pregnant women.
The six people severely ill with the virus
Case one: Woman, 53, admitted to hospital yesterday, now in Tuen Mun Hospital
Condition: Serious
High risk factors: unknown
Case two: Woman, 23, a university student, admitted to hospital on Tuesday, now in intensive care unit at Prince of Wales Hospital
Condition: serious
High risk factors: none
Case three: Woman, 48, admitted to hospital on Wednesday, now in intensive care at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Condition: Critical
High risk factors: chronic smoking
Case four: Man, 76, admitted on July 5; in Prince of Wales Hospital
Condition: stable
High risk factors: chronic pulmonary disease
Case five: Woman, 37, a domestic helper from the Philippines, admitted to hospital on July 7, now in intensive care at United Christian Hospital
Condition: Critical
High risk factors: none
Case six: Man, 34, admitted to hospital on Saturday, now in Tuen Mun Hospital
Condition: Serious
High risk factors: severe obesity