The Squina International Centre for Infection Control

In 2008, the CIC was renamed as the Squina International Centre for Infection Control in recognition of the generous support and donation of HK$2 million by the Squina International Group Limited for furthering the Centre's educational and research activities.

The naming ceremony was officiated by Mr. Meng Qun, Deputy Director of China's Ministry of Health; Dr. the Hon. Leong Che-hung, Executive Council Member of Hong Kong SAR; Mrs. Angel Siu-po Chan Lau, Chairman and CEO of Squina International Group Limited; and Dr. Roy Chung Chi-ping, Court Chairman, PolyU.

Honourable guests attend the inauguration of the Squina International Centre for Infection Control.

Dr. Lui Sun-wing, PolyU's Vice President (Partnership Development) (1st right) and Ms. Peggy Or, Former Centre-in-Charge of Squina International Centre for Infection Control (1st left) introduce the Centre to Mrs. Angel Siu-po Chan Lau, Chairman and CEO of Squina International Group Limited (2nd right) and Miss Abbie S.K. Chan, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Squina International Group Limited (2nd left)

The CIC recently underwent an extensive renovation to better accommodate our mission of assuming a leading role in the advancement of the specialty of infection control through professional development and training of health care professionals; the conduct of applied research to enhance prevention and control of infection; and community education to promote healthy behaviours and foster healthy environments. To mark the completion of the renovated centre, a re-opening ceremony was held on Nov 13th 2015. The Guest of Honour at the ceremony was Dr. Dominic Tsang, Chief Infection Control Officer of the Hospital Authority. Other special guests included the Chairman and CEO of the Squina International Group Limited, Professor Angel Chan Lau, her sister Ms Abbie Chan, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the CIC, Dr Wing Hong Seto, the Chair of the Hong Kong Nurses’ Association Ms Conita Lam, the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Professor Maurice Yap, and the Head of School of Nursing, Professor Alex Molasiotis. The re-opening ceremony was an opportunity for us to showcase our newly renovated centre and its state-of-the-art facilities to our distinguished guests, with the aim of raising awareness for our centre and willingness to collaborate with the healthcare profession.

From left: Dr Margaret O'Donoghue (Deputy Director of the CIC), Dr Lorna Suen (Director of the CIC), Dr Wing Hong Seto, Professor Maurice Yap, Professor Angel Chan Lau, Dr Dominic Tsang, Professor Alex Molasiotis, and Ms Abbie Chan participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.	Ms Conita Lam (Chair of HKICNA), Dr M O’Donoghue, Dr Lorna Suen, Dr Horace Mui (Associate Prof., Dept. of Building Services Engineering, PolyU) Dr Dominic Tsang (Chief Infection Control Officer, Hospital Authority), Prof. Alex Molasiotis, Dr. Steven Ho (Director, University Health Services, PolyU).
From left: Dr Lorna Suen; Dr Wai Fong Chan (External Advisor of the CIC), Dr Danny Tong (Chairman, Advisory Committee of the CIC, from Jan 2016), Prof Alex Molasiotis (Head, School of Nursing, PolyU	Dr Seto Wing Hong (Outgoing Chair, Advisory Committee of the CIC)
Ms Patricia Ching (Founding Chair HKICNA, former member Advisory Committee of the CIC).

To assume a leading role in the advancement of the specialty of infection control and disease prevention through professional development and training of health care professionals; conduct of research to enhance prevention and control of infection; and community education to promote healthy behaviours and foster a healthy environment.

To assume a leading role in the education of infection control.

• The CIC will continue to organize its modular Certificate Course in Infectious Diseases and Infection Control for Health Care Professionals on an annual basis.
• Other courses will be offered on an ad hoc basis as deemed necessary. These will include short infection control courses to:
  • Paramedical professionals (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and optometrists)
  • Child care workers
  • Elderly attending community centres for the elderly
  • Staff employed in the beauty industry
• The CIC regularly responds to requests from within the university to organize workshops and seminars including;
  • Short talks to students on infection control during orientation camp;
  • Presentations to Library and Catering services staff;
  • Workshops on hygiene and environmental decontamination to facilities management personnel
• NEW! MSc Infectious Diseases & Infection Control Stream of MSc Nursing
  Students with an interest in this specialist area are invited to register for the Infectious Diseases & Infection Control Stream of the MSc Nursing Programme offered by the School of Nursing. The following subjects will be included:
  • Contemporary Infectious Diseases
  • Infection Control Practice
  • Quality Management of Health Care Services
  Students will graduate with a Master of Science in Nursing (Infectious Diseases & Infection Control). For more information and details on registration please follow the link here.

To engage in applied research activities that contribute to prevention and control of infection.

CIC will focus on innovative research in infection control. Research collaborations at the level of the School, within the faculty and university, and both locally and internationally, will be encouraged.

Strengthen community education to promote health behaviors and foster healthy environments.

CIC will continue its role in community education via health talks to kindergartens, schools, and elderly centres.

Foster strong links with the local infection control community including the Hong Kong Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infection (HKSCMI) and the Hong Kong Society for Infectious Diseases (HKSID)

Advisor, Ex-officio of the Squina International Centre for Infection Control (CIC)    

Prof. Engle Angela CHAN
Professor
Interim Head, School of Nursing
Associate Director
International Research Centre for Advancement of Healthcare Communication (IRCAHC)
Department of English and Communication
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Internal members from School of Nursing

Dr. Margaret O’DONOGHUE, Director
Dr. Kin CHEUNG, Associate Professor
Dr. Lin YANG, Associate Professor
Dr. Cynthia WU, Senior Teaching Fellow
Mr. Timothy LAI, Clinical Associate
Ms. Ivy WONG, Clinical Associate
Mr. Keith FUNG, Clinical Associate
Dr. Rainbow LEE, Advanced Practice Nurse
Ms. Ka Yan KO, Clinical Instructor

Ex-officio members (SN)

Mr. Edmond TONG, Senior Clinical Associate
Mr. Ego HO, Senior Information Technology Officer
Mr. Xavier LEUNG, Laboratory manager

Secretary

Ms. Sue LIANG (Project Associate)
Ms. Charis TAM (Project Assistant)

Affiliate Faculty Members

Dr. Gilman SIU, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Department of HTI, PolyU
Dr. Horace MUI, Associate Professor, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, PolyU

Coming soon

L-R Back row: Dr. Olivia Fung (Former internal member), Dr. Simon Lam**, Dr. Lin Yang**, Dr. Margaret O’Donoghue**, Dr. Cynthia Wu** Front row: Mr. Sony Nai Yeung So*, Dr Danny Wah Kun Tong*, Prof. Alex Molasiotis (Advisor, Ex-officio of the Squina International Centre for Infection Control), Dr. Tak Keung Ng*, Dr. Lorna Suen, Dr. Wai Fong Chan*. Advisory committee external members* Internal members**

Advisory Committee members

Dr Tak Keung NG (Chairperson)
     Former ICO of Kowloon West Cluster
Dr. Danny Wah Kun TONG
     Senior Manager (Nursing)/Principal Nursing Officer, Hospital Authority Head Office.
     Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing, PolyU
Dr Wai Fong CHAN
     Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, PolyU
     Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, CUHK
Ms Yvette Wai Man LAI
     Senior Nursing Officer, Infection Control Nurse, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Mr Sony Nai Yeung SO
     CND/Nursing Officer (Infection Control Nurse), Kwong Wah Hospital

Category: Personal Protective Equipment & Standard Precautions

• de Carvalho, M. J., Pereira, F. M. V., Gir, E., Lam, S. C., Barbosa, C. P. (2016). Investigating compliance with standard precautions during residency physicians in gynecology and obstetrics. CLINICS, 71(7), 387-391
• Lam, S. C.*, Lee, J. K. L., Lee, L. Y. K., Wong, K. F., & Lee, C. N. Y. (2011). Respiratory protection by respirators: The predictive value of user-seal-check for the fit determination in healthcare settings. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 32(4), 402-403. (*Corresponding Author)
• Lam, S. C.*, Lee, J. K. L., Yau, S. Y., & Charm, C. Y. C. (2011) Sensitivity and specificity of the user-seal-check in determining the fit of N95 respirators. Journal of Hospital Infection, 77, 252-256. (*Corresponding Author)
• Lam, S. C.*, Lui, A. K. F., Lee, L. Y. K., Lee, J. K. L., Wong, K. F., & Lee, C. N. Y. (2016). Evaluation of the user-seal-check on gross leakage detection of three different designs of N95 filtering facepiece respirators. American Journal of Infection Control, 44, 579-86. (*Corresponding Author)
• Suen, L.K.P., Guo, Y.P., Tong, D.W.K., Leung, P.H.M., Lung, D., Ng, M.S.P., Lai, T.K.H., Lo, K.Y.K., Au-Yeung, C.H. & Yu, W. (2018). Self-contamination during doffing of personal protective equipment by health care workers to prevent Ebola transmission. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 7:157 (9 pages). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-018-0433-y
• Suen, L.K.P., Yang, L., Ho, S.S.K., Fung, K.H.K., Boost, M.V., Wu, C.S.T., Au-Yeung, C.H. & O'Donoghue, M. (2017). Reliability of N95 respirators for respiratory protection before, during and after nursing procedures. American Journal of Infection Control, 45(2017): 974-978.
• Wong, T.K.S., Chung J.W.Y., Li, Y., Chan, W.F, Ching, P.T.Y., Lam, C.H.S., Chow, C.B., & Seto, W.H. (2004). Effective personal protective clothing for health care workers attending patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. American Journal of Infection Control, 32(2), 90-96.

Category: Influenza and Respiratory Tract Infections

• Cao, P.H., Wang, X., Fang, S.S., Cheng, X.W., Chan, K.P., Wang, X.L., Lu, X., Wu, C.L., Tang, X.J., Zhang, R.L., Ma, H.W., Cheng, J.Q., Wong, C.M., & Yang, L. (2014). Forecasting influenza epidemics from multi-stream surveillance data in a subtropical city of China. PLoS ONE, 9(3): e92945.
• Cao, P.H., Wong, C.M., Chan, K.H., Wang, X.L., Chan, K.P., Peiris, J.S.M., Poon, L.L.M., Yang, L. (2016) Age-specific genetic and antigenic variations of influenza A viruses in Hong Kong, 2013-2014. Scientific Reports, 6:30260.
• Chan W.F. & Wong, T.K. (2007). Preparing for pandemic influenza: Revisit the basics. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 16, 1858-1864.
• He, D.H., Lui, R., Wang, L., Tse, C.K., Yang, L., & Stone, L. (2015). Global spatio-temporal patterns of influenza in the post-pandemic era. Scientific Reports. 5:11013.
• Lee, P.H., Cowling, B., Yang, L. (2016). Seasonal influenza vaccination among Chinese healthcare workers. American Journal of Infection Control, 45(5): 575-578.
• Meng, H.Q., Liao, Q.Y., Suen, L.K.P., O'Donoghue, M., Wong, C.M., Yang, L. (2016). Healthcare seeking behavior of patients with influenza like illness: comparison of the summer and winter influenza epidemics. BMC Infectious Diseases, 16:499.
• Wang, X.L.^, Yang, L.^, He, D.H., Chiu, A.P.Y., Chan, K.H., Chan, K.P., Guo, Q., Zhou, M.G., Wong, C.M., & Hu, W.B. (2017). Different responses of Influenza epidemic to weather factors among Shanghai, Hong Kong and British Columbia. International Journal of Biometeorology, 61(6): 1043-1053 (^Co-first-author).
• Wang X.L., Yang L., Chan K.H., Chan K.P., Cao P.H., Lau H.Y., Peiris J.S.M., & Wong C.M. (2015). Age and sex differences in rates of influenza-associated hospitalizations in hong kong. American Journal of Epidemiology, 182(4):335-344.
• Yang, L., Chan, K.P., Lee, R.S.Y., Chan, W.M., Lai, H.K., Thach, T.Q., Chan, K.H., Lam, T.H., Peiris, J.S.M, & Wong C.M. (2013). Obesity and influenza associated mortality: evidence from an elderly cohort in Hong Kong. Preventive Medicine, 56(2):118-123.
• Yang, L., Chan, K.H., Suen, L.K.P., Chan, K.P., Wang, X.L., Cao, P.H., He, D.H., Peiris, J.S.M., & Wong, C.M. (2015). Age-specific epidemic waves of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in a subtropical city. Scientific Reports, 5: 10390.
• Yang, L., Chan, K.H., Suen, L.K.P., Chan, K.P., Wang, X.L., Cao, P.H., He, D.H., Peiris, J.S.M., & Wong, C.M. (2015). Impact of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic on age-specific epidemic curves of other respiratory viruses: a comparison of pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods in a subtropical city. PLoS ONE, 10(4): e0125447.

Category: Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens

• Boost, M.V., Ho, J., Guardabassi, L., & O’Donoghue M.M. (2013) Colonization of butchers with livestock associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Zoonoses and Public Health, 60 (8): 572-576.
• Boost, M.V., Wong, A., Ho, J., & O’Donoghue, M.M. (2013). Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from retail meats in Hong Kong. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 10(8): 705-710.
• Ho, J., O'Donoghue, M.M., & Boost, M.V. (2014). Occupational exposure to raw meat: A newly-recognized risk factor for Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization amongst food handlers. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 217: 347-353.
• Ho, J., Boost, M.V., & O'Donoghue, M.M. (2015). Prevalence of enterotoxin genes in Staphylococcus aureus colonizing food handlers: Does nasal carriage status matter? European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 34 (11):2177-2181.
• Ho, J., Boost, M.V., O'Donoghue, M.M. (2015). Sustainable reduction of nasal colonization and hand contamination with Staphylococcus aureus in food handlers, 2002-2011. Epidemiology & Infection, 143(8):1751-1760.
• Ho, J, Boost, M.V., O'Donoghue, M.M. (2015). Tracking sources of Staphylococcus aureus hand contamination in food handlers by spa typing. American Journal of Infection Control, 43(7):759-761.
• Kwok, G., O’Donoghue, M.M., Doddangoudar, V.C., Ho, J., & Boost M.V. (2013). Reduced vancomycin susceptibility in porcine ST9 MRSA isolates. Frontiers in Microbiology, 4:316.
• Lee, R.L.P, Leung, P.H.M, Wong, T.K.S. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of topical tea tree preparation for MRSA colonized wounds. International Journal of Nursing Science, 1(1): 7-14.
• O’Donoghue, M.M., Doddangoudar, V.C., Tsang, D.N.C., Boost, M.V. (2015). Importance of early detection of vancomycin resistant sub-populations in apparently susceptible methicillin-resistant. Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 3(2): 64-68.
• O'Donoghue, M.M., Ng, S.H., Suen, L.K.P., & Boost, M.V. (2016). A quasi-experimental study to determine the effects of a multifaceted educational intervention on hand hygiene compliance in a radiography unit. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 5:36.
• Wong, T.F., Zhang, M., O’Donoghue, M.M., Boost, M.V. (2013). Presence of antiseptic resistance genes in porcine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Veterinary Microbiology, 162:977-979.
• Young, C.P., O'Donoghue, M.M., Ho, J., & Boost, M.V. (2014). High levels of Staphylococcus aureus contamination in Chinese-style roast pork. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 11:552-554.

Category: Vaccination

• Cheung, K., Ho, S.M.S., & Lam, W. (2017). Factors affecting the willingness of nursing students to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination: A large-scale cross-sectional study. Vaccine, 35(11): 1482-1487.
• Yang, L., Cowling, B., Liao, Q.Y. (2015). Intention to receive influenza vaccination prior to the summer influenza season in adults of Hong Kong. Vaccine, 33(48): 6525-6528.
• Yang, L.*, Nan, H.R., Liang, J., Chan, Y.H., Chan, L., Sum, W.M., Kwan, Y.M., Zhou, F.F., Meng, H.Q., Suen, L.K.P. (2017). Influenza vaccination in older people with diabetes and their household contacts. Vaccine, 35(6): 889-896. (*Corresponding author)

Category: Hand hygiene

• Au, W.H., Suen, L.K.P.* & Kwok, Y.L. (2010). Handwashing programme in kindergarten: A pilot study. Health Education, 110(1): 5-16. (*Corresponding Author)
• Suen, L.K.P., Siu, G.K.H., Guo, Y.P., Yeung, S.K.W., Lo, K.Y.K. & O’Donoghue, M. (2019). The public washroom - friend or foe? An observational study of washroom cleanliness combined with microbiological investigation of hand hygiene facilities. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, 8:47 (6 pages). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-019-0500-z
• Suen, L.K.P., So, Z.Y.Y., Yeung, S.K.W., Lo, K.Y.K. & Lam, S.C. (2019). Epidemiological investigation on hand hygiene knowledge and behaviours: A cross-sectional study on gender disparity. BMC Public Health. 19:401 (14 pages). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6705-5
• Suen, L.K.P., Wong, J.W.S., Lo, K.Y.K. & Lai, T.K.H. (2019).The use of hand scanner to enhance hand hygiene practice among nursing students: A single-blinded feasibility study. Nurse Education Today, May;76:137-147. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2019.01.013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.01.013

Category: Infection Control & Nursing

• Cheung, K., Ching, S.Y., Chang, K.P., & Ho, S.C. (2012). Prevalence of and risk factors for needlestick and sharps injuries among nursing students in Hong Kong. American Journal of Infection Control , 40(10), 997-1001.
• Cheung, K., Chan, C.K., Chang, M.Y., Chu, P.H., Fung, W.F., Kwan, K.C., Lau, N.Y., Li, W.K., & Mak, H.M. (2015). Predictors for compliance of standard precautions among nursing students. American Journal of Infection Control, 43(7), 729-734.
• Chan, W.F., Adamson, B., Chung J.W.Y., & Chow, M.C.M. (2011). Validity and reliability of the proposed core competency for infection control nurses of hospitals in Hong Kong. American Journal of Infection Control , 39, e11-e13.
• Lam, S. C.* (2011). Universal to standard precautions in disease prevention: Preliminary development of compliance scale for clinical nursing. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48(12): 1533-1539. (*Corresponding Author)
• Lam, S. C.* (2014). Validation and cross-cultural pilot testing of Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale: Self-administered instrument for clinical nurses. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 35(5): 547-555. (*Corresponding Author)
• Lam, S. C.*, Ho, Y. C., Chan, J. T. W., Lam, G. W. C., Au, M. F., Sham, C. K. N., Hui, W. S., Lai, E. I. Y., Or, C. W. T., Chan, F. H., & Pong, C. S. N. (2012). Psychometric testing of Compliance with Universal Precautions scale in clinical nursing. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 21: 1486-1489. (*Corresponding Author)
• Lam, S. C.*, Fung, E. S. S., Hon, L. K. Y., Ip, M. P. Y., & Chan, J. H. T. (2010). Nursing students' compliance with universal precautions in Hong Kong. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19: 3247-3250. (*Corresponding Author)
• Lam, S. C.*, Lee, L. Y. K., & Tiu, M. M. H. (2009). Impact of infection control measures on psychosocial health: A study on the post-stroke elders. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18: 3507-3509. (*Corresponding Author)
• Lam, S. C.*, Pereira, F. M. V., Mersal, F. A., Samur, M., İntepeler, Ş. S., & Gir, E. (2017). Cross-cultural study of compliance with standard precautions among nurses: Insights for the future steps. American Journal of Infection Control, 45(6): S82-S83. (*Corresponding Author)
• Pereira, F. M. V., Lam, S. C.^, Chan, J. H. M., Malaguti-Toffano, S. E., & Gir, E. (2015). Difference of compliance with standard precautions between the nursing staff in Brazil and Hong Kong. American Journal of Infection Control, 43: 769-772. (^Co-first-author)
• Pereira, F. M. V., Lam, S. C., & Gir, E. (2017). Cultural adaptation and reliability of the Compliance with Standard Precautions Scale (CSPS) for nurses in Brazil. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 25:e2850.

Category: Other infectious diseases

• Guo C., Yang L., Ou C.Q., Li L., Zhuang Y., Yang J., Zhou Y.X., Qian J, Chen P.Y., & Liu Q.Y. (2015). Malaria incidence from 2005-2013 and its associations with meteorological factors in Guangdong, China. Malaria Journal. 14:116.

To understand more about the current infection disease challenges in Hong Kong. Click here :

• Centre for Health Protection, HKSAR
• Centre for Health Protection, Communicable Diseases Watch
• Flu Express
• EV Scan
• Avian Influenza Report
• Report on Pneumococcal Disease (IPD)

For a complete list of communicable diseases, please click here.