HONG KONG, April 30 -- A 47-year-old man here had his left lower leg amputated after developing a severe bacterial infection days following acupuncture at two traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinics.

According to the South China Morning Post, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said the man developed a fever and thigh pain on April 11 and was later diagnosed with septic shock and necrotising fasciitis, also known as a "flesh-eating infection".

"During the investigation, the team suspected that the Chinese medicine practitioner had not strictly followed infection control procedures when performing acupuncture," a CHP spokesman said.

After initial treatment at a private hospital, the patient was transferred to Queen Mary Hospital o...