CHP Investigates CPE Cases Among Elderly Residents at Mong Kok Care Home

CHP investigates cluster of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae carrier cases

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 10) investigating a cluster of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) carrier cases involving five residents of a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE). The CHP reminded all RCHEs to implement measures for the detection, prevention and control of infectious diseases in accordance with theGuidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseasein RCHEs(the Guidelines).

In recent months, the CHP received notifications from the Hospital Authority (HA) that five residents, aged between 85 and 96, living on the same floor of an RCHE in Mong Kok District had been admitted to a public hospital for treatment due to their underlying illnesses. Their admission screening samples tested positive for CPE upon laboratory testing. All patients are carriers, with none of them having exhibited symptoms associated with CPE infection. They are in stable condition.

Following the HA's notifications, the CHP immediately conducted epidemiological investigations and inspected the RCHE.The CHP found that there had been previously at least three known carriers on the same floor of the RCHE, but the RCHE management had not fully implemented the related infectious disease prevention and control measures. This led to transmission within the RCHE through contaminated environment or the sharing of items. Therefore, the CHP cannot rule out that the five recent cases were infected at the RCHE. The CHP reminded the RCHE management to strictly adhere to the Guidelines, thoroughly clean and disinfect the environment, and ensure good hand hygiene among staff and residents. The CHP also recommended that the RCHE cohort the carriers in the same area and provide adequate hand-washing facilities.

The CHP will continue to investigate the cluster of cases and conduct screening at the RCHE in question to determine whether there are other CPE-carriers. The CHP will also put the RCHE under medical surveillance.

Enterobacteriaceae (such as Escherichia coli andKlebsiella) are common pathogens that can cause infections in various parts of the body, including urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections or blood infection. CPE are enterobacteriaceae that produce carbapenemase, an enzyme that can deactivate carbapenems and other beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins. These bacteria are commonly resistant to multiple antibiotics, limiting therapeutic options, and may render severe clinical infections difficult to treat. The range of diseases associated with CPE varies from asymptomatic carriage to potentially life-threatening or fatal infections. The level of risk depends on which part of the body is affected by the infection and the patient's general health.

The proper use of antibiotics and maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene, especially hand hygiene, are important for preventing the emergence and cross-transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), such as CPE. In addition, susceptible individuals such as the elderly, infants, young children, people with weakened immunity and pregnant women can reduce their risk of contracting MDROs by avoiding raw or undercooked foods.

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Hospital Authority statement on intern doctor's inappropriate act

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) today (June 10) issued the following statement regarding social media posts discussing an intern doctor:

The HA is aware of recent social media posts concerning the inappropriate act of an intern doctor across different hospitals. The HA considers the matter extremely serious, affecting the professional image of healthcare staff.

The HA spokesperson reiterates that there is zero tolerance for any behaviour undermining patient safety and the professional conduct of doctors. Action has been taken to follow up rigorously to safeguard patient safety. The HA strongly condemns any inappropriate act concerned.

Regarding the suspicions of someone who logged into the Clinical Management System at Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) with another person's account and accessed patient records at Tuen Mun Hospital without authorisation, the HA has reported to the Police. The HA will co-operate fully with the police investigation and is conducting a comprehensive review of the relevant patient records to ascertain that patient safety has not been affected. No irregularities in patient treatment have been identified at this stage. The HA has immediately suspended the clinical duties of the intern doctor concerned and a resident doctor at Tuen Mun Hospital, and has also suspended their access right to the system in order to protect patient and system security.

The HA had previously seriously warned the intern doctor concerned for an inappropriate act committed during an internship at Ruttonjee Hospital, and had already taken disciplinary action against the intern doctor concerned and another resident doctor for inappropriate acts at CMC. The HA will continue to investigate whether the intern doctor concerned is involved in any other inappropriate act. If it is confirmed that the intern doctor concerned or any other doctor has engaged in an inappropriate act that violates medical professional standards, the HA will handle the matter seriously and refer it to the Medical Council of Hong Kong for follow-up.

The HA has notified the medical school of the relevant university to follow up on the intern doctor's assessment of being fit for practice.

The HA holds doctors to the highest standards of professional conduct, behaviour, and discipline. The HA insists that all doctors serving patients in public hospitals must possess both medical competence and conduct themselves in a professional manner. In addition to having professional knowledge to treat patients, they must uphold the strictest professional conduct and place patient well-being, safety, and care as their foremost priority at all times. The HA has absolutely zero tolerance for any form of behaviour that undermines the professional conduct of doctors. The HA will follow up on such behaviour with utmost seriousness, and will not permit any doctors concerned to practise in public hospitals to safeguard patient safety.

Source: AI-found images