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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the recall of a batch of contaminated sputum traps, the spokesperson for Hospital Authority (HA) made the following announcement today (April 5):
Seven bronchoscopy cytology specimens collected among a group of patients in medical department from March 1, 2016 in Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospital were confirmed positive for non-viable fungus. The hospital later formed the expert panel and invited the Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology of Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, and his team to conduct an investigation on the issue. The panel conducted thorough investigation on the environment of the hospital, bronchoscopy appliances as well as infection control procedure to identify the root cause. The panel finally found similar non-viable fungus in the sputum traps (lot no:1503B006) supplied by Medpower Company Limited. The expert panel today submitted the investigation report to the hospital.
Upon the receipt of the investigation report from Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, the Hospital Authority Head Office immediately followed up with the supplier and confirmed that a total of 2800 sputum traps were distributed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital and Pok Oi Hospital respectively. HA immediately informed the hospitals concerned to follow-up and found no patient case being affected by the application of the sputum traps concerned.
To ensure patient safety, the hospitals concerned had immediately suspended the use of the affected sputum traps and followed up with the supplier for recall and substitutes from other suppliers. The Hospital Authority Head Office had reported the investigation report concerned to Department of Health.
HA reiterated that no adverse report caused by the incident been reported. HA will continue follow-up with the supplier on the issue.
Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospital would like to express appreciation to the expert panel, Professor Yuen and his team in completing the report.
Ends/Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:28
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