United Christian Hospital responds to case of Legionnaires’ disease
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesman for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following reply today (May 31) regarding a Legionella infection case:
An 86-year-old male patient who had stayed in a medical and geriatric ward of UCH confirmed to have Legionnaires’ Disease. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) visited the ward and collected water samples today. The source of infection is still under investigation. The patient is currently receiving treatment at UCH and is in stable condition.
The hospital has already implemented a series of precautionary and enhanced infection control measures, including:
- Suspending use of related basin faucets and shower heads;
- Installing bacterial filters for related water faucets and arranging to disinfect related water supply system; and
- Providing boiled or bottled water to patients in the wards concerned for drinking and mouth rinsing.
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office according to established guidelines. The hospital will co-operate with the CHP to investigate the source of infection.