Cluster of Candida auris cases in Queen Elizabeth Hospital
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The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (August 28):
A 31-year-old male patient was treated in a High Dependency Unit of Department of Neurosurgery in QEH on August 10. He was then confirmed to carry Candida auris without signs of infection during a regular screening on August 18. He has recovered and been discharged. In accordance with prevailing guidelines, QEH commenced a contact tracing investigation and found eight more patients (two female patients and six male patients, aged from 52 to 80) who stayed in the same cubicle carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. Five of these patients are now being treated in isolation and are in stable condition, and the remaining three patients have been transferred to Kowloon Hospital or Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital for further isolation treatment.
The hospital has reported the cases to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:
1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned;
2. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures; and
3. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients.
The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation as well as following up the cases with concerned departments and the CHP.
Ends/Monday, August 28, 2023
Issued at HKT 19:20
Issued at HKT 19:20
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