Transmission Patterns of Co-Circulation of Omicron Sub-Lineages in Hong Kong SAR, China, a City with Rigorous Social Distancing Measures, in 2022.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the changing landscape of circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages in the local community of Hong Kong throughout 2022. We examined how adjustments to quarantine arrangements influenced the transmission pattern of Omicron variants in a city with relatively rigorous social distancing measures at that time.

Methods: In 2022, a total of 4684 local SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore GridION sequencer.

Probable airborne transmission of causing an urban outbreak of melioidosis during typhoon season in Hong Kong, China.

Between January 2015 and October 2022, 38 patients with culture-confirmed melioidosis were identified in the Kowloon West (KW) Region, Hong Kong. Notably, 30 of them were clustered in the Sham Shui Po (SSP) district, which covers an estimated area of 2.5 km.

Induction of amphotericin B resistance in susceptible by extracellular vesicles.

Drug resistance derived from extracellular vesicles (EVs) is an increasingly important research area but has seldom been described regarding fungal pathogens. Here, we characterized EVs derived from a triazole-resistant but amphotericin B-susceptible strain of . Nano- to microgram concentrations of EVs prepared from both broth and solid agar cultures could robustly increase the yeast's survival against both pure and clinical amphotericin B formulations in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in up to 16-fold changes of minimum inhibitory concentration.

Co-circulation of two SARS-CoV-2 variant strains within imported pet hamsters in Hong Kong.

During the investigation of a pet shop outbreak of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with probable hamster-to-human transmission, the environmental and hamster samples in epidemiologically linked pet shops were found positive for SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant AY.127 strains which are phylogenetically closely related to patients and reported European strains. This interspecies' spill-over has triggered transmission in 58 patients epidemiologically linked to three pet shops.

Invasive Burkholderia cepacia Complex Infections among Persons Who Inject Drugs, Hong Kong, China, 2016-2019.

During March 2016-January 2019, Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) infection developed in 13 persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Kowloon West Region, Hong Kong, China. Seven cases were infective spondylitis, 2 endocarditis, 2 septic arthritis, 1 intramuscular abscess and bacteremia, and 1 necrotizing fasciitis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that the isolates from 9 patients were clonally related.

A low-cost TaqMan minor groove binder probe-based one-step RT-qPCR assay for rapid identification of N501Y variants of SARS-CoV-2.

The increasing prevalence of N501Y variants of SARS-CoV-2 has kindled global concern due to their enhanced transmissibility. Genome sequencing is the gold standard method to identify the emerging variants of concern. But it is time-consuming and expensive, limiting the widespread deployment of genome surveillance in some countries.

Territorywide Study of Early Coronavirus Disease Outbreak, Hong Kong, China.

Initial cases of coronavirus disease in Hong Kong were imported from mainland China. A dramatic increase in case numbers was seen in February 2020. Most case-patients had no recent travel history, suggesting the presence of transmission chains in the local community.

Thelaziasis as an uncommon cause of giant papillary conjunctivitis.

Introduction: We report a local human case of eye infection in a 49-year-old lady with history of fly contact in Hong Kong.

Case Description: A 49-year-old lady presented with right eye foreign body sensation for one month. She recalled a fly being stuck onto her right upper eyelashes with mascara when she went hiking in a forest trail in Hong Kong.

High Prevalence and Frequent Acquisition of Clostridium difficile Ribotype 002 Among Nursing Home Residents in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVETo determine the incidence and risk factors associated with Clostridium difficile colonization among residents of nursing homes and to identify the ribotypes of circulating C. difficile strains.DESIGNA prospective cohort study with a follow-up duration of 22 months.

Clinical features and molecular epidemiology of plasmid-mediated DHA-type AmpC β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae blood culture isolates, Hong Kong.

Knowledge of risk factors and clinical characteristics of bacteraemia caused by plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase (pAmpC)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (pAmpC-Kp) is not well described. This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with K. pneumoniae bacteraemia in three Hong Kong regional hospitals.

Prevalence, prediction, and clonality of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage at admission to medical units in Hong Kong, China.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization at the time of admission to acute medical units and to develop a cost-effective screening strategy.

Methods: Nasal and groin screening cultures were performed for patients at admission to 15 acute medical units in all 7 catchment regions in Hong Kong. All MRSA isolates were subjected to spa typing.