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Expert Panel releases report with improvement measures for laundry procedures
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Expert Panel to investigate the incident of mucormycosis infection at Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) released its investigation report today (August 6) with a number of recommendations to enhance the process and practices for laundry services and linen item storage to ensure a clean and hygienic supply of linens for public hospital patients.

     The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman said the HA has received the report from the Panel and will study and follow up on the recommendations in the report.

     In June and July this year, six patients were found infected with mucormycosis at QMH with the source suspected to have originated from patient linen items which were supplied by Shum Wan Laundry Centre. An expert panel was subsequently set up to determine the root cause of the contamination. In the course of investigation, samples from other laundry centres of the HA have also been collected but none tested positive for mucormycosis.

     According to the report, samples were taken during site visits conducted by panel members at Shum Wan Laundry Centre. Some of the samples tested positive for the implicated zygomycetes. The Panel believes that the microbiological findings correlated with the visibly dusty environment and the failure of the washer to achieve the set temperature.

     "The operation of Shum Wan Laundry Centre will continue to be suspended. Its linen item supply to public hospitals is to be taken up by other laundry centres to maintain normal supply. The HA will follow up with the service contractor of Shum Wan Laundry Centre on the liability issues in accordance with the contractual terms," the spokesman added.

     In the report, the Panel made a number of recommendations to enhance good practices in laundry and linen storage. The HA spokesman highlighted that three improvement measures have been implemented with immediate effect in all laundry centres:

1) Reinforcing the checking of temperature sensors of the laundry equipment in all laundry centres;
2) Enhancing the monitoring work process, in particular moisture control, during drying and packing of patient linen items; and
3) Ceasing the use of starch powder for ironing of patient linen items.

     Other recommendations include periodic and thorough cleaning and sterilising of laundry facilities and delivery vehicles, and a clear segregation of used and clean linen to prevent cross-contamination. On the handling of linen items at the hospital, the Panel recommended linen consumption should follow the first-in, first-out principle and topping up must not be allowed. In the long term, periodic microbiological testing for linen items will also be studied.

     The Expert Panel was led by the Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Yuen Kwok-yung. Other panel members included the Chief of Service (Medicine), QMH, Dr Albert Lie; the Principal Medical and Health Officer (Epidemiology Section) of the Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Dr Liza To; and the HA Chief Manager (Business Support Services), Mr Desmond Ng. The HA would like to express its appreciation to Professor Yuen and the panel members for their hard work in completing the report within a short period of time with a number of valuable improvement recommendations.

Ends/Thursday, August 6, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:36

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