Princess Margaret Hospital announces Candida auris cases
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The spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) made the following announcement today (September 27):
A 60-year-old male patient had been separately admitted to the Surgical and Medical and Geriatric (M&G) wards of PMH in August and September. He was transferred to Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) for palliative care on September 13 and went through admission screening. The screening result showed that he was a Candida auris carrier while not having signs of infection. In accordance with prevailing guidelines, PMH commenced contact tracing for close contacts for the patient and identified two more male patients (aged 84 and 75) who had been in the same M&G ward as being Candida auris carriers without signs of infection. Among the three patients, two of them have passed away due to their own illness while the other patient is being treated under isolation in PMH with stable condition.
The Hospital infection control team has reported the case to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). After discussion with the departments concerned and experts of the CHP, the following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:
- Continuing to conduct contact tracing for close contacts;
- Applying stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
- Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned.
The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the wards concerned.
Ends/Friday, September 27, 2019
Issued at HKT 19:10
Issued at HKT 19:10
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