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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC) made the following announcement today (March 28):
An 80-year-old male patient of a medical ward in Queen Elizabeth Hospital was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on March 20. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. A total of 12 more male patients (aged 50 to 84) who had stayed in the same ward were confirmed to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. Eleven patients are under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition. The remaining patient has been discharged.
Moreover, a 73-year-old male patient admitted to an extended care ward of Kowloon Hospital was confirmed to be a VRE carrier on March 13. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. A total of 11 more male patients (aged 65 to 92) who had stayed in the same ward were confirmed to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. All the patients are under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
The KCC Infection Control Team, the departments concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection have met and decided to adopt the following enhanced infection control measures:
1. A central cleansing team has provided enhanced environmental cleansing for patients carrying multiple-drug resistant organisms;
2. Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor disinfection for commonly used equipment is to be arranged;
3. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items to VRE carriers and enhanced hand hygiene;
4. All VRE carriers are being treated in isolation rooms or cohorts according to their clinical symptoms and treatment needs; and
5. Visiting is limited to two people per patient during each visiting period.
The KCC Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation of the wards.
Ends/Thursday, March 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:19
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