Cluster of Candida auris cases in Queen Elizabeth Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (October 10):

     A 66-year-old female patient was treated in a Ventilator Ward in QEH on September 19. She was then confirmed to carry Candida auris without signs of infection during a regular screening on September 26. She has been transferred to Kowloon Hospital (KH) for isolation treatment. In accordance with prevailing guidelines, QEH commenced a contact tracing investigation and found four more female patients (aged from 60 to 95) in the same ward carrying Candida auris without signs of infection. Three of these patients are now being treated in isolation and are in stable condition, and the remaining patient has been transferred to KH 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 follow up the cases with concerned departments and the CHP.