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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 (January 2):
A 68-year-old male patient in a Medicine and Geriatrics Ward of TMH was confirmed to be infected with Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on December 31. The patient has been isolated for further treatment and is in critical condition due to his underlying illness.
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient and two more male patients (aged 73 and 85) have been confirmed to be VRE carriers but without clinical symptoms. One of the patients is still hospitalised under isolation in stable condition, whereas the other one was discharged earlier.
The Medical and Geriatrics Ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
1. Enhanced hand hygiene and stringent contact precautions have been applied;
2. Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures; and
3. Enhanced disinfection and cleaning of the ward concerned.
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 ward.
Ends/Thursday, January 2, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:35
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