Timeline on outbreak of hepatitis C infections at SGH
SINGAPORE — The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) today (Oct 6) revealed that 22 people had been infected with Hepatitis C at its renal ward earlier this year. The 22 people were infected between April and June, but some of the cases were only detected recently.
A multi-dose vial containing insulin was shown to the media during a media briefing called to share details on a cluster of Hepatitis C cases detected in a renal ward at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). During the media briefing, it was said that the renal department patients who contracted Hepatitis C did use insulin. Photo: Wee Teck Hian
SINGAPORE — The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) today (Oct 6) revealed that 22 people had been infected with Hepatitis C at its renal ward earlier this year. The 22 people were infected between April and June, but some of the cases were only detected recently.
Here is a timeline of how events unfolded.
April 17 to May 14: Five cases of Hepatitis C infections detected
May 15: SGH conducted internal investigations on dialysis centre
May 25 to 27: 6th and 7th cases detected
May 29: Dialysis centre cleared as potential source of infection
May 30: 8th case detected
June 2: Infection control team activated; 9th case detected
June 10: Renal ward stop using multi-dose vials
June 11 to 16: 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th cases detected
June 23: Use of multi-dose vials stopped hospital-wide; 15th case detected
June 25 to 26: 16th, 17th and 18th cases detected
July 7 to 15: 19th and 20th cases detected
Aug 11: 21st case detected
Late August: SGH informs Ministry of Health (MOH) of “unusually large cluster” of Hepatitis C patients along with the outcomes of its investigations.
Sept 3: After reviewing SGH’s report, Associate Prof Benjamin Ong, MOH’s director of Medical Services met SGH clinicians to seek further clarifications.
Sept 4: A MOH team visited the renal ward (Wards 64A and 67) for a process walkthrough with SGH.
Sept 7: External analysis by an A*STAR laboratory confirmed SGH’s initial findings that the 21 cases were related.
Sept 9: SGH started hepatitis C screening for all doctors and nurses involved in the direct care of the affected patients. As of Sept 25, 76 staff members have been screened. All were found to be negative for hepatitis C.
Sept 18: Having assessed that the additional investigations requested had largely been completed, Assoc Prof Ong reported the identification of the cluster to Health Minister Gan Kim Yong. Mr Gan asked SGH for a briefing. SGH requested that it take place on Sept 25 to allow SGH sufficient time for investigations to be completed.
Sept 21: MOH notified of the 22nd case.
Sept 24: SGH report submitted to MOH.
Sept 25: Mr Gan was given a briefing. He instructed that an independent review committee be set up, and for SGH to make public its preliminary findings.
Oct 6: SGH makes public the infections, says it will start contacting staff and more than 400 patients who had gone to the ward, to ask them to go for screening. The MOH announces setting up of independent review committee.
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