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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 (February 2):
A 57-year-old male patient in a Medicine and Geriatrics Ward of TMH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on January 26. The patient is now isolated and under medical surveillance with stable condition.
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Four more male patients (aged 66 to 93) were confirmed as VRE carriers but without clinical symptoms. One of the patient succumbed yesterday because of his own underlying illness. All other patients are still hospitalised under isolation and medical surveillance with stable condition.
The concerned Medicine and Geriatrics Ward 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 cleansing 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/Sunday, February 2, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:25
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