Cluster of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae cases in Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital made the following announcement today (September 4):
      
     A 93-year-old patient in a female medical and orthopaedics rehabilitation ward was confirmed to be infected with Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) on September 2. The patient is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition. In accordance with prevailing guidelines, the hospital has commenced contact tracing and identified seven female patients (aged 85 to 97) to be CPE carriers without clinical symptoms. One of them has been discharged already and six others are under isolation in stable condition.
      
     The Hospital Infection Control Team has followed up with the departments concerned and the Centre for Health Protection. The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the ward:
 
1. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
2. Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward.
 
     The hospital will continue to 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.