Update on investigation into case of Legionnaires' disease
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The case involves a male patient, aged 68, who was admitted to St Paul's Hospital (SPH) from January 2 to 22 and was transferred to Ruttonjee Hospital for further management on January 22. The patient is currently in a stable condition. His respiratory specimen tested positive for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1) upon laboratory testing.
Water samples and environmental swabs were collected from SPH to test for legionella in a joint investigation by the CHP and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department on the possible source of infection and to support the implementation of control measures.
Upon laboratory testing, all 14 water samples tested positive for Lp1, with levels from 2.6 to 69.5 colony-forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml), and one out of seven environmental swabs tested positive for Lp1.
"Our laboratory investigations show that the patient's respiratory specimen and some of the positive water samples were of the same sequence type of Lp1. Investigations at this stage cannot rule out the possibility of a nosocomial infection," a spokesman for the CHP said.
"We noted that SPH has conducted disinfection of the water systems concerned. The CHP has provided health advice against LD to hospital staff and in-patients, including those with weakened immunity who should use sterile or boiled water for drinking, teeth brushing and mouth rinsing," the spokesman said.
"Medical surveillance in the ward to which the patient was admitted has been enhanced in collaboration with SPH and no additional cases have been identified thus far. We will maintain close liaison with SPH to monitor the latest developments. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing," the spokesman added.
As of January 27, six LD cases had been reported in 2018. In 2017 and 2016, there were 72 and 75 cases respectively.
Ends/Monday, February 5, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:35
Issued at HKT 18:35
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