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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 (March 9):

     An 86-year-old patient in a male medical ward of TWEH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on February 18. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened other patients who had contact with the index case and confirmed 11 more patients (aged 62 to 90) to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. Among the patients, an 89-year-old patient passed away on February 23 due to his underlying illness, while eight have already been discharged. The remaining three patients are still hospitalised under isolation and medical surveillance with stable condition.

     Admission to the ward has been suspended. The Infection Control Team, the departments concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection have discussed and decided to adopt the following enhanced infection control measures in the ward:

1. Strongly encouraging patients 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. Enhancing environmental and equipment decontamination.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

Ends/Monday, March 9, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:20

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