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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 (March 22):
A 69-year-old female patient in a Medical and Geriatrics Ward of TMH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on March 20. The patient is being hospitalised under isolation and medical surveillance with serious condition due to her own underlying illness.
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Seven more patients (three male and four female, aged 29 to 89) have been confirmed to be VRE carriers but without clinical symptoms. Among seven patients, two patients have been discharged earlier. Two patients are in serious condition due to their own underlying illness and the remaining patients are still hospitalised under isolation and medical surveillance with stable conditions.
The concerned 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/Saturday, March 22, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:00
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