***********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (September 22):
Two neurosurgical patients, namely a 30-year-old female with brain abscess and a 74-year-old female with brain tumour, admitted to QEH were confirmed to be Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carriers on September 16 and 19 respectively. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who stayed in the same cubicle with the index patient in the same period and found three female inpatients (aged 34 to 86) to be VRE carriers. All five patients are in stable condition and under medical surveillance and isolation.
There are clinical guidelines in public hospitals to ensure proper use of antibiotics, including Vancomycin, and management of VRE carriers. The hospital has stepped up the infection control measures according to established guidelines.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
Ends/Thursday, September 22, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:36
NNNN
