The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital made the following announcement today (May 24):
Four patients (aged 57 to 93) in a female medical ward have been confirmed to be asymptomatic carriers of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) since May 19. One of the patients has been transferred to another hospital and is being treated under isolation with stable condition. Two patients have been discharged. The remaining one passed away due to underlying illness today.
The Hospital Infection Control Team has followed up with the departments concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection. The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the ward:
- Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
- Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
- Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward.
In addition, regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients confirmed to have CPE in a male medical ward, the hospital has stepped up the extent of active surveillance and contact investigation in accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines. Two more male patients (aged 53 and 86) have been confirmed to be asymptomatic carriers of CPE. They were discharged before the hospital stepped up the infection control measures. One of the patients was confirmed upon re-admission and he is now under isolation with stable condition, while the other patient was confirmed via contact tracing outside the hospital.
Infection control measures have been enhanced according to the established guidelines in the wards. All other patients in the wards concerned are under close surveillance.
The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the wards. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
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