Cluster of Candida auris cases in Kwong Wah Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following announcement today (September 11):
 
     A 72-year-old male patient in a neurosurgical ward of KWH was confirmed to be carrying Candida auris on September 2 without signs of infection. The patient had been discharged earlier. In accordance with the prevailing guideline, KWH conducted contact tracing and found two more male patients, aged 66 and 67, carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. The two patients are now being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.
 
     The ward concerned has 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 ward concerned.

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