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Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Caritas Medical Centre
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     A spokesperson for Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) made the following announcement today (January 9):

     In accordance with the prevailing Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) screening guidelines, a 73-year-old male patient, admitted for Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease, was recently confirmed to be a VRE carrier. The patient is being treated under isolation and his clinical condition is critical due to his underlying medical illness. The hospital has screened the patients who stayed in the same ward and have close contact with the index patient during the same period, according to guidelines. It was further confirmed that seven male inpatients (aged 68 to 88) are VRE carriers. All the confirmed patients are under medical surveillance and isolation.

     Clinical guidelines are used in public hospitals to ensure proper use of antibiotics, including Vancomycin, and the management of VRE carriers. The CMC has stepped up 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/Monday, January 9, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:33

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