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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding an earlier announcement on some patients of neurosurgical department found to be carriers of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE), the spokesperson of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following update today (September 28):
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, one more 83-year old female patient is found to be carrier of VRE through contact tracing, but without clinical symptoms. The patient has passed away due to acute subarachnoid haemorrhage which is unrelated to VRE.
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
QEH held a follow-up meeting with experts in infection control today and decided to introduce some new measures in addition to the existing infection control measures:
1. The hospital decided to open an isolation ward to isolate all the VRE carriers.
2. The cubicles concerned and all patient care equipments would be disinfected by hydrogen peroxide vapor.
3. Elective neurosurgical cases would be reduced, for better implementation of enhanced infection control measures.
4. Admission of new cases to neurosurgical wards would be confined to designated cubicles.
Ends/Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 20:15
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