Cluster of Candida auris cases in North Lantau Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     â€‹The spokesperson for North Lantau Hospital (NLTH) made the following announcement today (October 2):
      
     An 90-year-old male patient in an emergency medicine ward of NLTH was found to be carrying Candida auris after screening on September 23 without signs of infection. He is in critical condition due to underlying diseases and is being treated in isolation. In accordance with the prevailing guideline, NLTH conducted contact tracing and found one more patient, a 71-year-old male, carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. The patient was discharged earlier.
      
     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 of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.