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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 (March 2):
Six patients (aged 33 to 90) of a male medical ward have been confirmed to have Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) since February 4. One of them is infected case in serious condition. The remaining five patients are confirmed to be MDRA carriers without clinical symptoms, one of them is in critical condition due to underlying disease, two are still hospitalised under medical surveillance and isolation in stable condition. The remaining two had passed away due to underlying disease.
Acinetobacter is a bacterium which is commonly found in water and soil. It can also "colonise" or live in a patient without causing infection or symptoms. However, it may sometimes cause disease in patient with weakened immune system.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection. The hospital has stepped up the infection control measures in the ward concerned. The Hospital Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation.
Ends/Monday, March 2, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:40
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