The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital made the following announcement today (March 3):
Seven male patients (aged 45 to 93) in a Medicine and Geriatrics ward have been confirmed to be carriers of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) since February 23. Four patients are now being treated under isolation, three of them are in stable condition while the remaining patient is in serious condition due to his underlying illness. In addition, two patients had been discharged earlier and one patient had passed away due to pneumonia on February 25.
Following the activation of the Emergency Response Level in public hospitals, the visiting arrangement for the ward has been suspended. The following enhanced infection control measures have been adopted according to established guidelines:
1. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
2. Stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
3. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward.
The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward. 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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