Hong Kong man suffers amputation after flesh-eating bacterium infection

A Hong Kong man suffering from a back injury underwent some acupuncture sessions with two registered Chinese medicine practitioners. However, he was infected during one session with a flesh-eating bacterium, requiring admission and urgent treatment at a private hospital. Medics had to amputate his left leg to save his life. On April 29, the Department of Health reported that the man remains in hospital in a stable condition and that clinical tests have confirmed his infection with a Group A Streptococcus, generally identified as a flesh-eating bacterium.
According to health department officials, the man developed a fever and severe pain in his left thigh after receiving acupuncture treatment. He was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital for treatment, where the amputation was performed. The following investigation revealed that one of the two practitioners failed to adhere to infection control protocols during treatment. Samples collected from his clinic showed the presence of Group A Streptococcus matching the strain found in the infected patient. Health officials have been unable to contact the practitioner, as the clinic has been found closed during multiple visits. If professional misconduct is confirmed, the case may be referred to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong for disciplinary action.