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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the announcement earlier that some patients of the neurosurgical department had been found to be carriers of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE), the spokesperson of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following update today (September 26):
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, 16 more patients (nine male and seven female, aged 46 to 90) were found to be carriers of VRE through contact tracing, but all were without clinical symptoms. Among them, 12 and three have been hospitalised at QEH and Kowloon Hospital respectively. They are in stable condition and under isolation. The remaining patient has been discharged. The hospital has isolated the patients concerned and has reinforced contact precautions since September 22.
The hospital will continue the stepped-up infection control measures and the situation will be closely observed. The laboratory screening for patients continues to be in progress.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
Ends/Monday, September 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:32
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