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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (February 17):
A 59-year-old patient in a male Orthopaedics and Traumatology ward of TMH was confirmed as a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on February 8. The patient has been isolated for further treatment and is in critical condition due to underlying disease.
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient and two more patients (aged 77 and 89) were confirmed to be VRE carriers. One of the patients succumbed on February 15 due to underlying disease. The other patient is still hospitalised under isolation and is in stable condition.
The Orthopaedics and Traumatology ward concerned 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 cleaning 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.
Ends/Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:06
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