Hong Kong Hospital Authority warns of surge in 2 superbugs, turns to AI in fight against antibiotic overuse

Multidrug-resistant organisms, also known as superbugs, are microorganisms that have become resistant to certain antimicrobials, such as antibiotics and antifungals. They are the result of overprescription and improper use of such medicines.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, one of the most common types of drug-resistant organisms in the city, was found to have an antibiotic resistance rate of 44.7 per cent among the 100 samples collected from patients at public hospitals in the first three quarters of the year. About 9,500 new cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are reported every year.

VRE, also a concern in the city, had an antibiotic resistance rate of 1.2 per cent over the same period, compared with 0.22 per cent in 2021 and 0.7 per cent in 2022.

The number of patients carrying VRE jumped from fewer than 40 in 2021 to about 140 as of late September this year.

Patients carrying Candida auris, which first emerged in the city in 2019, rose from almost 200 in 2020 to more than 300 as of Oct 31 this year. According to Lai, 10 per cent of those affected by the fungus would develop invasive infections, which had a 53 to 83.3 per cent mortality rate.

Lai stressed that the authority would focus on controlling the three superbugs this year.

“It is very important to control multidrug-resistant organisms in our hospitals mainly due to limitations in the choice of antibiotics or antifungals in the treatment of infected patients,” he said, noting the drugs had side effects.

“For patients with a weak immune system, once infected, they may suffer serious complications or even die.”