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

     The spokesperson for Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) made the following announcement today (February 3):

     In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, a 65-year-old male patient with history of hypertension and stroke was admitted to the medical ward in CMC was found to be Vancomycin Resistance Enterococci (VRE) carrier on January 30. The patient is being treated under isolation and his condition is stable. The hospital has screened the patients who stayed in the same ward with the index patient in the same period according to the guidelines. It was found eight male inpatients (aged 74 to 87) were found to be VRE carriers. All the confirmed patients are being treated under isolation. Among them, one has been recovered and discharged. The other seven patients are in stable condition.

     There are clinical guidelines in public hospitals to ensure proper use of antibiotics, including Vancomycin, and management of VRE carriers. Admission to the ward has been suspended. CMC has stepped up infection control measures according to established guidelines and the ward will accept new admission after terminal environmental decontamination completed.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.

Ends/Friday, February 3, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:44

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