Mycobacterium marinum
03/06/2014
Recently there has been an increase in the Chinese community of a rare infection called Mycobacterium marinum over the past few months. It is caused by handling raw fish. The symptoms start as an abscess in the hand which can then progress to multiple lesions over the hands and arms. In extreme cases, the infection can travel and involve the nerves and tendons of the hands. The infection can take a few weeks or months to become apparent. So, diagnosis is often delayed and sometimes missed because it is so unusual.
However, there has been a surge of these cases recently and they are continuing to present. CAMS President Dr. Danny Fong initially identified the problem. Dr. Fong states “I often observe 1 case of M.marinum infection every 1-2 years. However since last August, my office diagnosed at least 15 patients, all Chinese patients, with this infection.” CAMS Executive Director, Dr. Warren Chin adds “The community should be careful when they are handling raw fish with intact spines and bones and avoid puncture. People handling raw fish or seafood should wear rubber gloves, especially if you have any cuts or abrasions on your hands. If you have anything that resembles what is shown in the picture, please see medical attention as soon as possible.” Treatment sometimes involves surgery and requires several months of antibiotics. Dr. George Liu, President of CAIPA, assures everyone that “consumption of properly cooked fish and seafood would not present any risk of infection.”
Perry Pong, MD,the Chief Medical Officer at Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, said “It is for the good of the community that when there is an outbreak of disease the Chinese medical community responds and obtains assistance from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH). NYCDOHMH will help get to the root causes of the infection and advise how it can be prevented. Any patient with these symptoms of skin infection which do not heal should see their doctor and seek medical care.”
然而，最近這種病例不斷出現，而且有所增加。美洲中華醫學會會長鄺立中最早識別出這個問題。鄺醫生指出：「通常每一到兩年，我就觀察到一個感染海洋分枝桿菌的病例。然而從去年八月以來，我的診所至少確診了15一個病例，患者全部是華裔。」美洲中華醫學會行政總監陳建樂補充說：「華裔社區民眾處理帶脊骨和帶刺的生魚類應該當心，避免刺到手。處理生魚和海鮮時，應該戴橡膠手套，特別是手部有割傷或擦傷的人。如果有任何類似圖片中顯示的情形，應儘快就醫。」有時治療需要進行手術，還要服用幾個月的抗生素。中美醫師協會會長劉季高指出，食用「進食妥善煮熟的魚類和海鮮，不會出現任何感染風險。」
Press Conference on 03/06/2014 with CAMS, CAIPA, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in cooperation with Charles B. Wang Community Health Center