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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (September 23):
A 58-year-old male patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of TMH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on September 19. The patient has been transferred to an isolation ward for further treatment and is in serious condition because of his own underlying illness.
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. It was found that, in a medical ward that the patient had stayed in before transferring to the ICU, there were another two male patients and one female patient (aged 56 to 75) who were confirmed to be VRE carriers but without clinical symptoms. One male patient in stable condition has been transferred to an isolation ward for further surveillance, the other male patient succumbed today because of his own underlying illness, and the female patient had been discharged earlier.
The medical ward concerned has suspended new case admission and has stepped up infection control measures.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up. The hospital Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation of the wards.
Ends/Monday, September 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:26
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