******************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (May 6):
Under the standing infection control surveillance mechanism, four male patients (aged 39 to 79) in a medicine and geriatrics ward were confirmed to have Multi-drugs Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) since April 17. Among the patients, three are still hospitalised under medical surveillance and isolation. One of them is in stable condition, while the other two patients are in critical and serious conditions due to their underlying diseases. The remaining patient had passed away earlier due to his underlying disease.
Acinetobacter is a bacterium which is commonly found in water and soil. It can also colonise or live in a patient without causing infection or symptoms. Acinetobacter poses very little risk to healthy people and does not cause disease most of the time. However, it may sometimes cause disease in patients with weakened immune systems. Effective antibiotics are available for treatment. Careful attention to infection control procedures, such as hygiene and environmental cleaning, can reduce the risk of transmission.
As this surveillance result is higher than the usual surveillance baseline, the following enhanced infection and cleansing measures have already been adopted:
1. Enhance disinfection and cleansing of the ward concerned;
2. Apply stringent contact precautions, including use of dedicated clinical equipment for MDRA carriers and enhance hand hygiene;
3. Isolate the concerned patients; and
4. Enhance attention to contamination-prone procedures.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward.
Ends/Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:20
NNNN
