Hong Kong ( CNN ) -- Police are investigating a beauty clinic in Hong Kong after four women were hospitalized with septic shock after receiving a treatment experts say is usually only administered to cancer patients . Two women , aged 46 and 60 , remain in a critical condition after being admitted soon after undergoing the procedure at the DR beauty clinic last Wednesday , according to a statement from the Hong Kong Department of Health . Two other women , aged 56 and 59 are also hospitalized . The younger woman is in a serious condition , while the elder woman is said to be stable . In a statement from the health department -- which is investigating the matter -- a spokesman said patients had received what 's called a DC-CIK treatment , a procedure that involves , `` concentration and processing of blood taken from the person , and subsequent infusion of the mixture back into the patient . According to the investigation , the treatment was provided by registered medical practitioner . '' Experts contacted by CNN said they had never heard of DC-CIK being used on healthy people . `` Such treatment is only indicated for patients with metastatic cancer and often as salvage therapy when there are no other feasible options , '' Professor KY Yuen , Chair of Infectious Diseases at the University of Hong Kong 's Department of Microbiology said in an email to CNN . It 's not clear whether any of the women had been diagnosed with cancer , though the Hong Kong Health Department said in a statement that at least one woman had been in good health before the treatment . Dr. Ho Pak-leung , President of the University of Hong Kong 's Center for Infection told CNN that he had not heard of any scientific evidence that DC-CIK treatment was useful for cosmetic purposes . `` I have serious doubts about the medical and scientific basis of the treatment , '' he said . In a statement , Hong Kong 's Health Department said blood samples taken from one of the women showed the presence of Mycobacterium abscessus , a bacterium that can be found in water , soil and dust , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Preliminary samples from two other women produced similar findings -- testing is still under way . Dr. Ho said under normal circumstances the bacterium does not pose a danger to healthy people , and is most commonly seen in superficial wound infections . However , he added that it appears as though it had somehow entered the women 's blood . `` There 's a real possibility that the treatment is a direct cause of the serious illness in the four patients , '' he said . `` We do n't normally see infection of the blood and internal organs in patients , '' Dr. Ho said , adding that effectively treating the condition is `` very difficult . '' He said : `` Doctors are trying very hard to save the patients who came down with blood infections with this bacteria but there 's a lot of uncertainty as to whether those drugs are really effective . '' A Hong Kong Health Department spokesman said investigations revealed that the treatment was provided to a total of 44 women , including those hospitalized in the past week . The hospitalized women were said to have experienced a range of symptoms including headaches , fever , diarrhea and vomiting . As of late Sunday , 12 people had called a special hotline to say that they were also clients of the clinic , but no new cases of septic shock had been reported , the Health Department said . In response to media questioning on Saturday , the clinic 's founder , Dr. Stephen Chow Heung-wing said that his staff referred clients to an independent doctor who administered the therapy , but denied suggestions that it was offered as a medical treatment . `` I did n't said that it can cure any diseases . Remember that , we are a beauty clinic . We refer clients to doctor ( s ) and we have had the clients to sign a liability-free form , which states that it is not for medical use , '' he told local media . CNN phoned Chow 's office on Monday but his staff said there would be no further comment . The Health Department said the clinic had been ordered to halt the procedure . A statement on the beauty clinic 's website says that the treatment `` was conducted by an independent doctor at a medical clinic , and the doctor is not hired by our beauty store . '' The statement also said it was up to the independent doctor to decide whether the client is suitable for treatment before he or she receives it . It added : `` We will assist related government departments to find out the causation of this particular incident . '' According to its website , the DR group of clinics was established in 1995 and provides services for more than 1,000 clients each day . Vivian Kam contributed to this report .
Hong Kong police investigating beauty clinic after women hospitalized . Four women are being treated for septic shock after receiving DC-CIK treatment . Treatment is normally only offered to cancer patients , experts said . Clinic 's founder says clients referred to an independent doctor .