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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Shatin Hospital (SH) made the following announcement today (October 12):
Four patients (aged 64 to 79) in a male palliative care ward have been confirmed to have carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) since September 27. One of them has symptoms of infection and is currently under medical treatment and isolation in a stable condition. One patient had already been discharged. Another two patients passed away due to underlying illness on October 9 and October 10 respectively.
Enterobacteriaceae is a normal gut flora which is commonly found in healthy people. Some Enterobacteriaceae may contain a resistant gene which can produce carbapenemase and become CRE. Patients of immunodeficiency are at risk of infection and complication. Colistin is the mainstay of antibiotic treatment.
The Hospital Infection Control Team, the departments concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection held a meeting, and the following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the ward concerned:
1. Enhance screening procedures on those patients who had contact with these four carriers;
2. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items to affected patients, and enhanced hand hygiene;
3. Enhance environmental cleansing;
4. Perform environmental sampling for monitoring; and
5. Visiting limited to two people per patient during each visiting period.
The Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
Ends/Monday, October 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:28
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