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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (July 7):
A 91-year-old female patient of an extended care ward of KH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on July 3. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index case. Two more patients (aged 74 and 94) in the same ward were confirmed to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. All the patients are under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition.
The Infection Control Team, the departments concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) have discussed and decided to adopt the following enhanced infection control measures in the ward:
1. Strongly encouraging patients to perform hand hygiene;
2. Enhanced 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.
Furthermore, KH made an announcement earlier on a male rehabilitation ward in which some patients had been infected with Clostridium Difficile toxin. One more 81-year-old patient of the ward today tested positive for Clostridium Difficile toxin. The patient is being treated under isolation with stable condition. Admission to the ward has been suspended and restricted visiting to the ward has been imposed.
The Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation of the two wards. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the CHP for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Monday, July 7, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:33
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