The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (May 6):
A 14-day-old baby girl of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of TMH was transferred to Hong Kong Children Hospital (HKCH) for treatment due to underlying illness. She was identified as a carrier of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) without symptoms of infection by screening on April 29. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, TMH has performed screenings. Six more babies (three boys and three girls, aged 6 days to 5 months) of the same ward were confirmed to be MRSA carriers without any symptoms of infection.
The 14-day-old baby girl is now being treated under isolation in HKCH and in serious condition due to underlying illness. The remaining babies are currently being treated under isolation in TMH. Three of them are in serious condition due to underlying illness, the others are stable.
The hospital is very concerned about the incident and investigating the source of infection. Moreover, the hospital has performed enhanced medical surveillance and screening of the patients in the ward concerned. The following infection control measures have been stepped up according to established guidelines:
- Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned, including the environment, incubators, equipment and instruments;
- Enhanced medical surveillance of the patients and environmental screening procedures in the ward concerned; and
- Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff. Family members are reminded that infection control measures must be implemented before visiting their babies.
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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