Queen Elizabeth Hospital has formed a team to investigate a mishap yesterday in which staff mistakenly rinsed an ultrasound probe in sterilised water set aside for a cystoscope.

The Hospital Authority today said the probe used in the brain abscess surgery for a 25-years-old male neurosurgical patient was mistakenly rinsed in the water.

The hospital then performed urological procedures through the cystoscope on four men aged 70 to 89. It was found the cystoscope used might have been contaminated.

To rule out the possibility of the neurosurgical patient bearing infectious diseases that could be transmitted through body fluids and blood, tests were immediately arranged for him and showed no irregularities.

Although the infection risk of the other four patients was low, antibiotics were prescribed. All are under close observation and are in stable condition.

Apologising for the incident, the hospital formed an investigation team and a report will be submitted to the authority.

To avoid recurrence the hospital has enhanced the labelling system of sterilised materials, strengthened staff supervision and fostered staff alertness on related guidelines. The staff member involved in the incident has been counselled.