The spokesperson for the Prince of Wales Hospital made the following announcement today (14 January):

Eight patients (aged 57 to 90) of a male medical ward have been confirmed as carriers of Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter (MDRA) since 18 Decemember 2014. Three of them have been discharged. One is still hospitalized while three patients have been transferred to the Shatin Hospital. All hospitalized patients are under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition. One patient had passed away due to underlying disease.

Acinetobacter is a bacterium which is commonly found in water and soil. It can also “colonise”or live in a patient without causing infection or symptoms. Acinetobacter poses very little risk to healthy people and does not cause disease most of the time. However, it may sometimes cause disease in patients with weakened immune systems. Effective antibiotics are available for treatment. Careful attention to infection control procedures, such as hygiene and environmental cleaning, can reduce the risk of transmission.

The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:

1. Enhance disinfection and cleansing of the ward concerned.
2. Apply stringent contact precautions, including dedicated use of clinical equipment for all patients in the ward concerned and enhance hand hygiene.
3. Perform contact tracing and screen new patients who are admitted to the ward concerned.
4. Enhance environmental samplings for monitoring.
5. Enhance 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.