Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]
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Cluster of Acinetobacter species cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital made the following announcement today (March 6):
Two male babies (aged 24 days to 56 days old) of the Special Care Unit of the Paediatrics Department have been infected with Acinetobacter species since February 25.
Both of them were put on antibiotics treatment.
They are being treated under isolation and are now in stable condition.
Acinetobacter is a bacteria 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 hand hygiene and environmental cleaning, can reduce the risk of transmission.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) for necessary follow-up.
The Hospital Infection Control Team, the department concerned and experts of the CHP held a meeting and the following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the Special Care Unit:
Ends/Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:40
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-The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital made the following announcement today (March 6):
Two male babies (aged 24 days to 56 days old) of the Special Care Unit of the Paediatrics Department have been infected with Acinetobacter species since February 25.
Both of them were put on antibiotics treatment.
They are being treated under isolation and are now in stable condition.
Acinetobacter is a bacteria 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 hand hygiene and environmental cleaning, can reduce the risk of transmission.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) for necessary follow-up.
The Hospital Infection Control Team, the department concerned and experts of the CHP held a meeting and the following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the Special Care Unit:
- Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items to affected patients and enhanced hand hygiene;
- Environmental cleansing has been enhanced;
- Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor disinfection for commonly used equipment is to be arranged;
- All affected patients are being treated in isolation rooms or cohorts according to their clinical symptoms and treatment needs; and
- Visiting is limited to two people per patient during each visiting period.
Ends/Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:40
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