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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (August 15):
Three babies (one male and two female, aged 11 to 27 days) in a neonatal ward of QEH were identified to have Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) colonisation through routine surveillance screening since August 10. All of them are under isolation and in stable condition.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection. The infection control team of QEH met experts from the Hospital Authority and Centre for Health Protection today and adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
1. Isolate the affected patients in a designated cubicle in the same ward. They are being cared for by designated nursing staff with the use of dedicated equipment. Staff are reminded to pay special attention to procedures with a high risk of cross transmission;
2. Enhance surveillance of patients;
3. All staff and visitors entering the designated cubicle have to wear personal protective equipment;
4. Enhance environmental hygiene in the wards; and
5. Strict adherence to hand hygiene will be enforced to prevent cross transmission.
Ends/Friday, August 15, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:00
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