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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (April 17):
A 75-year-old male patient admitted to an extended care ward of KH earlier was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on April 12. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient, and nine more patients (aged 52 to 90) 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 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 for the VRE carriers and enhanced hand hygiene;
3. All VRE carriers are under medical surveillance in isolation rooms; and
4. Restricted visiting to the ward concerned is imposed.
The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:26
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