The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Kowloon West Cluster (KWC) gave the following update today (September 24):
Regarding the situation of Candida auris carrier cases in KWC, the hospitals in the cluster have adopted a series of measures to prevent the spread of Candida auris, including enhanced admission screening and close contact tracing of patients.
After the implementation of the above measures, four male patients (aged 24 to 81) in Princess Margaret Hospital and North Lantau Hospital have also been confirmed as Candida auris carriers while not having signs of infection. The four patients are now being treated under isolation. One of the patients is in serious condition due to his underlying illness, while the other three are stable.
In accordance with the prevailing guidelines, KWC will continue contact tracing for the patients. The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:
- Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned;
- Enhanced admission screening for patients and environmental screening procedures; and
- Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients.
KWC will continue to closely monitor the situation of the patients. 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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