The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     ​Regarding an earlier announcement on Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier cases, the spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) gave the following update today (June 30):

     Following a contact tracing investigation, one more 62-year-old male patient in a medical ward of KWH was identified as a carrier of VRE without signs of infection. The patient is in critical condition due to his underlying diseases and now being treated in isolation.

     The ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:

1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned;
2. Enhanced hand hygiene and application of stringent contact precautions; and
3. Enhanced admission screening for patients and environmental screening procedures.

     The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward concerned. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for necessary follow-up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     Regarding an earlier announcement on Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier cases, the spokesperson for Tseung Kwan O Hospital gave the following update today (April 29):
      
     In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital carried out contact tracing. Six more patients (aged 68 to 98) in the same medical male ward concerned were confirmed as VRE carriers. Two patients are now being treated in isolation and are in stable condition. Three patients have been discharged and one patient has been transferred to another hospital.
 
The ward concerned has enhanced the following infection control measures:
1. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene for staff and patients;
2. Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures; and
3. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward and the patients. The cases concerned have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital gave the following update today (April 4):

     An 81-year-old patient in a female medical convalescent ward was confirmed to be carrying Candida auris on March 30 via hospital screening. Following a contact-tracing investigation, another 90-year-old female patient in the same ward, and two more male patients (aged 57 and 87) in another rehabilitation ward, were identified as carriers of Candida auris. The patients concerned do not have signs of infection. They are now being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.

     The hospital will continue the contact-tracing investigation of close contacts of the patients in accordance with the prevailing guidelines. A series of enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted to prevent the spread of Candida auris:
 

1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the wards concerned;
2. Enhanced admission screening for patients and environmental screening procedures; and
3. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene for staff and patients.

     The hospital 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.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesman for Kwong Wah Hospital gave the following update today (February 18):

     Following a contact tracing investigation, one more 95-year-old male patient in the medical ward was identified as a carrier of Candida auris while not having signs of infection. The patient has been discharged earlier.

     The hospital will continue the contact tracing investigation of close contacts of the patients in accordance with the prevailing guidelines. A series of enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted to prevent the spread of Candida auris:
 

1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned;
2. Enhanced admission screening for patients and environmental screening procedures; and
3. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene for staff and patients.

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