Hong Kong West Cluster announces pupil nurse tuberculosis case
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The spokesman of Hong Kong West Cluster made the following announcement today (September 2) on a confirmed case of tuberculosis concerning a pupil nurse of Grantham Hospital (GH):
A pupil nurse of Grantham Hospital received a pre-employment medical check and her chest X-ray examination revealed multiple calcifications over the lung on July 30. The student did not present any respiratory symptoms all along. Her case was followed up by the staff clinic of Queen Mary Hospital and the Chest and Tuberculosis Unit of GH afterwards. On Tuesday (August 30), a sputum test was arranged for her and the sputum smear result was confirmed to be positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The pupil nurse was clinically diagnosed as having tuberculosis and admitted to GH on the same day and is still hospitalised for treatment.
After being informed of the laboratory test result, GH started immediate investigation and performed contact tracing in accordance with prevailing infection control guidelines. Joint assessment made by respiratory medicine specialists, the Infection Control Team and Department of Health experts in tuberculosis concluded that the risk of spreading infection is very low, taking into account that she had put on surgical masks during clinical placement in Tung Wah Hospital, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Fung Yiu King Hospital and Grantham Hospital.
As a precautionary measure, GH is performing contact tracing for the 29 pupil nurses and eight teachers who had contact with the nurse concerned to explain the situation and render necessary support. Similar measures will be taken in both Tung Wah Hospital and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Fung Yiu King Hospital.
GH has reported the case to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up. Meanwhile, the hospital will enhance infection control measures and closely monitor the health situation of the pupil nurse and the people concerned.
Ends/Friday, September 2, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:43
Issued at HKT 19:43
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