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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 (September 17):
A 92-year-old female patient of an Extended Care ward of KH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on September 10. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Two more female patients (aged 68 and 82) who had stayed in the same ward with the index patient in Queen Elizabeth Hospital were confirmed to be VRE carriers, but 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; and
3. 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/Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:45
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