'Flesh-eating bacteria': Leg amputated after acupuncture treatment, Hong Kong clinic probed

A Hong Kong clinic is under scrutiny after a patient contracted flesh-eating bacteria linked to contaminated shorts.

A serious public health probe is underway in the Asian trading hub after a 47-year-old man had his left leg amputated reportedly due to a severe flesh-eating infection following an acupuncture treatment at a traditional Chinese medicine clinic.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post on Wednesday (April 30, 2025), authorities discovered Group A Streptococcus (GAS) — the bacterium responsible for necrotising fasciitis — on a pair of patient shorts used at the Causeway Bay clinic the man had visited.

Contaminated shorts

The shorts, reportedly already washed, were part of standard attire provided to acupuncture patients.

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain and treat various health conditions. 

It's based on the idea that a vital energy, called "qi", flows through the body in channels called meridians, and acupuncture aims to restore the balance of this energy. 

A 2024 study published in ScienceDirect stated that GAS produces a variety of virulence factors and "exotoxins" that can lead to deadly infections such as necrotising fasciitis, impetigo, and cellulitis.

Hong Kong's Department of Health confirmed that while the bacteria were found on the clothing, it remains unclear whether the patient wore them during his visit.

Officials stated no additional cases of infection have been reported from the clinic in question or another facility in Sheung Wan the patient had also visited.

Advisory

Nonetheless, a formal advisory was issued to all Chinese medicine practitioners in the city, emphasising strict adherence to infection control protocols.

GAS is considered a highly aggressive bacterium that can lead to life-threatening infections, particularly in cases of skin trauma.

It has become a significant threat to the healthcare system, infecting more than 18 million people and resulting in more than 500,000 deaths annually worldwide, as per ScienceDirect.

Deadly pathogen

A 2019 study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases highlighted that GAS can invade deep tissues rapidly, with mortality rates for necrotising fasciitis reaching as high as 30% without early surgical intervention.

Similarly, research from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2022 found that even minor breaches in skin integrity, such as needle punctures, can become entry points for the pathogen in unsanitary conditions.

Chan Wing-kwong, chairman of the Hong Kong Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners Association, urged caution stating it's too early to draw definitive conclusions, and emphasised that the risk of such infections in acupuncture settings remains low.

The investigation continues as health officials trace the potential source of contamination and evaluate hygiene practices in alternative medicine facilities across the city.