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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Kowloon East Cluster made the following announcement today (August 6):
A 77-year-old male patient who was admitted to a medical ward in Tseung Kwan O Hospital (TKOH) on July 18 and transferred to Haven of Hope Hospital (HHH) on July 26 was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on August 1. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, both hospitals have screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Ten male patients (aged from 65 to 91) have been confirmed to be VRE carriers but without clinical symptoms. Four of them are still being hospitalised in TKOH and five others are still in HHH under medical surveillance and in stable condition. One patient has already been discharged.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward.
The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the wards of the two hospitals:
1. VRE-positive patients are cohorted in the same cubicle;
2. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including use of dedicated clinical equipment for VRE carriers;
3. Enhanced hand hygiene;
4. Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures; and
5. Enhanced disinfection and cleansing of the ward concerned.
Ends/Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:09
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