The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (August 25) investigating a cluster of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) carrier cases involving six residents of a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE), and reminded all RCHEs to adhere to the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases in RCHE (the Guidelines) to implement measures for the detection, prevention and control of infectious diseases.

     The CHP received notification from the Hospital Authority (HA) that six residents (three males and three females aged between 68 and 85) of an RCHE in Yuen Long had recently attended a public hospital for treatment due to their underlying illnesses. Their samples tested positive for CPE upon laboratory testing, but all patients are carriers and none of them exhibited symptoms associated with CPE infection.
 
      After receiving the notification from the HA, the CHP immediately conducted epidemiological investigations and suspected that CPE was transmitted within the institution. The CHP is conducting a screening at the RCHE concerned to determine if there are any additional CPE-carriers. Staff of the CHP conducted a site inspection and found that the RCHE concerned had not fully implemented the measures recommended in the Guidelines. The CHP reminded the RCHE to strictly adhere to the Guidelines for proper nursing procedures and to thoroughly clean and disinfect the environment, and ensure proper hand hygiene for staff and residents. 

     The CHP will continue to put the RCHE under medical surveillance and investigate the case cluster.

     Enterobacteriaceae (for example, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella) are common pathogens that can cause infections in various parts of the body, including urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections or bacteraemia. CPE are enterobacteriaceae that produce carbapenemase, an enzyme that can deactivate carbapenems and other beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins. These bacteria are commonly resistant to multiple antibiotics, limiting therapeutic options, and may render severe clinical infections difficult to treat. The range of diseases associated with CPE varies from asymptomatic carriage to potentially life-threatening or fatal infections. The level of risk depends on which part of the body is affected by the infection and the patient's general health.

     ​​Proper use of antibiotics and maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene, especially hand hygiene, are important for preventing emergence and cross-transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), such as CPE. In addition, susceptible individuals such as the elderly, infants, young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immunity can reduce their risk of contracting MDROs by not eating raw or undercooked foods.

Ends/Monday, August 25, 2025
Issued at HKT 20:15

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