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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (March 12):
A 72-year-old female patient admitted to QEH earlier for treatment of pneumonia was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on March 6. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Five male patients (aged 72 to 83) have been confirmed to be VRE carriers, all without clinical symptoms. Three of the patients are hospitalised at QEH and the other two were transferred to Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital and Kowloon Hospital for further treatment on February 29 and March 6 respectively. All are in a stable condition. While waiting for laboratory test results, the patients concerned were placed under isolation, and enhanced infection control measures were implemented.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
The Hospital Infection Control Team, front-line staff of the department concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection had a meeting today and the following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:
1. All VRE carriers are being treated in isolation rooms;
2. Visiting is limited to two people per patient during each visiting period; and
3. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items to VRE carriers, enhanced hand hygiene and environmental hygiene.
The Hospital Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward.
Ends/Monday, March 12, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:12
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