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Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) made the following announcement today (July 23):

     An 89-year-old patient in a male surgical ward of PYNEH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on July 19 and is in stable condition. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital screened patients who had contact with the index patient and confirmed six more patients (aged 63 to 82) to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. One of the patients has been discharged and the remaining patients are still hospitalised under isolation and medical surveillance in stable condition.

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

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 for VRE carriers; and
4. Enhancing environmental and equipment decontamination.

     The Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the CHP for necessary follow-up.

Ends/Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:38

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