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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Caritas Medical Centre made the following announcement today (September 18):
An 80-year-old male inpatient of the Orthopaedic ward was confirmed to be a carrier of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on September 17. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Two more male patients (aged 38 and 66) were confirmed to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. The 80-year-old patient is in serious condition due to his underlying illness, while the other two are in stable condition. All patients are under medical surveillance and isolation.
The following enhanced 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/Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:12
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