Cluster of Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter cases in Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH) made the following announcement today (September 5):
 
     An 89-year-old female patient in a mixed medical ward of AHNH was confirmed on August 22 to have been infected with Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter (CRA). The patient has been discharged after treatment. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index case. Four more patients (three female and one male, aged 62 to 92) were confirmed as CRA carriers without any clinical symptoms. One of them has been discharged already. The other three patients are under isolation with stable condition.
 
     The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:
 

1. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned;
2. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene; and
3. Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures.

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