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Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Tung Wah Eastern Hospital
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Tung Wah Eastern Hospital (TWEH) made the following announcement today (May 9):

     An 87-year-old male patient in a male geriatric ward of TWEH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on May 3. He passed away on May 6 due to underlying illness. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient and confirmed five more patients (aged 72 to 90) to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. All patients are still hospitalised under isolation and medical surveillance with stable condition.

     The Infection Control Team, the departments concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection discussed and decided to adopt the following enhanced infection control measures:

1. Strongly encouraging patients to perform hand hygiene;
2. Enhancing hand hygiene of staff;
3. Applying stringent contact precautions, including dedicated use of clinical items to VRE carriers; and
4. Enhanced environmental and equipment decontamination.

     The hospital will continue to implement the enhanced infection control measures and 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/Friday, May 9, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:00

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