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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (October 29):
A 90-year-old patient admitted to a male extended-care ward of KH was confirmed to have infection of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on October 24. He has been transferred to the isolation ward for further treatment and observation. The patient is in stable condition. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Six more patients (aged 30 to 83) who had stayed in the same ward were confirmed to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. Among the six patients, three have been transferred to the isolation ward in Queen Elizabeth Hospital because of their own underlying illness, while the other three have been transferred to the isolation ward. All of them are in stable condition.
Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward concerned are under close surveillance.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Monday, October 29, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:00
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