'Shocking' levels of bacteria found in Hong Kong laundry's hospital linen

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'Shocking' levels of bacteria found in Hong Kong laundry's hospital linen

Investigation by top microbiologist into fungal infection of six patients reveals that laundry broke contract terms when handling bed sheets

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 06 August, 2015, 7:08pm
UPDATED : Friday, 07 August, 2015, 1:52am

Emily Tsang [email protected]

The Shum Wan laundry did not use water that was hot enough to kill the fungus, researchers found. Photo: Sam Tsang

The Hospital Authority may terminate its contract with a laundry operator after a microbiologist investigating the fungal infection of six patients at Queen Mary Hospital found "shocking" levels of contamination in washed linen.

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, a world-renowned microbiologist at the University of Hong Kong, said 61 per cent of samples taken from Shum Wan Laundry tested positive for the fungus Rhizopus microsporus, normally found in soil and rotting food.

Yuen said the environment of the business was "very dusty and stuffy", adding that "it was more like a prison than a laundry".

The amount of fungus detected in the fresh linen processed by the laundry had a high of 1,568 colony forming units of bacteria per 100 square centimetres of fabric - far exceeding the acceptable standard of 20.

Yuen detected the fungus at the washing, drying and ironing stages of the operation, none of which were performed at the required temperatures of 71 degrees Celsius, 90 degrees and 162 degrees respectively.

The investigation also found that starch powder used in washing was stored next to rubbish bins, and containers were topped up without being cleaned first. Although the fungus was not detected in the starch powder, Yuen said the powder provided a favourable environment for the growth of micro-organisms.

The investigation also revealed bed sheets were packaged while still moist and warm, which would encourage the growth of the fungus, Yuen said.

The investigation was launched after six patients at the Pok Fu Lam hospital - two of whom died - were infected with the fungus last month.

"The amount of fungus detected in samples taken from fresh linen were really shocking to me," Yuen said yesterday as he released a report on the investigation. "We believe the environment of Shum Wan Laundry and the washing and drying process are very problematic."

Dr Luk Chi-chung, chief executive of the Hong Kong West group of hospitals, said the hospital employed a procedure to inspect its designated laundry operator once a month and it would increase the frequency if there were any complaints. He said a review was needed to find out why the procedure had failed to detect the problem earlier.

The authority's chief manager for business support services, Desmond Ng Wo-kwai, said the laundry operator could have violated the terms of the contract, which spell out that the temperature of the washing water must reach 71 degrees Celsius - in contrast with the 60 degrees revealed by the investigation.

Ng said the authority would consider terminating its 10-year contract with the company or hold it responsible.

Contractor ISS, which runs Shum Wan Laundry, declined to comment yesterday.

The infected patients all had weak immune systems. A 74-year-old man who died had undergone a liver transplant on the mainland. The other fatality was a woman aged 42 who was suffering from lung disease.

Shum Wan Laundry supplied bed sheets and clothes to 14 public hospitals and to a clinic in Sai Ying Pun.

Additional reporting by Allen Au Yeung