The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital (HKBH) made the following announcement today (March 28):

     A 73-year-old male patient in a medicine and geriatrics ward of HKBH was confirmed to carry Candida auris on March 20 without signs of infection. In accordance with the prevailing guidelines, HKBH has conducted contact tracing and found four more male patients (aged from 81 to 101) who stayed in the same ward carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. All patients are now being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.

     Moreover, a 94-year-old female patient in a medical ward of HKBH was confirmed to carry Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on March 21. After conducting a contact-tracing investigation, three more female patients (aged from 53 to 96) were found to be VRE carriers. One of the patients was discharged earlier, while another patient developed infection symptoms. All hospitalised patients concerned are being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.

     The wards concerned have adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
 

1. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
2. Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned.

     The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and will closely monitor the situation of the wards. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

Ends/Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:35

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