**********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) made the following announcement today (November 17):
An 89-year-old male patient was admitted to a medical ward at CMC on November 5 for pneumonia. His stool and blood culture samples were confirmed to have Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) infection on November 16. The patient is being treated under isolation and his clinical condition is stable.
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened inpatients who were in close contact with the index patient in the same period. So far three male inpatients (aged 69 to 77) were confirmed to be VRE carriers. They are now under medical surveillance and isolation. The hospital will continue the screening process.
The hospital has stepped up infection control measures in the ward according to established guidelines. The relevant ward environment and equipment were also disinfected.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
Ends/Thursday, November 17, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:18
NNNN
