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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following announcement today (March 15):
A 71-year-old male patient in a medicine ward of KWH 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. A 83-year-old male patient has been confirmed to be a VRE carrier without clinical symptoms. One of the patients is now under medical surveillance and isolation, and is in stable condition. The other patient has been discharged.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) for necessary follow-up.
The Hospital Infection Control Team, the department concerned and experts of the CHP held a meeting this afternoon and the following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:
1. Disinfection and cleansing of the ward concerned have been enhanced;
2. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items to VRE carriers, enhanced hand hygiene;
3. All VRE carriers are under medical surveillance in isolation rooms;
4. Restricted visiting to the ward concerned is imposed.
The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward.
Ends/Friday, March 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:30
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