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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 (August 20):
A 78-year-old patient in a male cardiac rehabilitation ward of TWEH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on August 14. He had passed away on August 13 due to his underlying illness. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines the hospital screened other patients who had contact with the index case and confirmed two more patients (aged 60 and 89) to be VRE carriers. One of the patients is still hospitalised under isolation and medical surveillance with stable condition. The other patient has already been discharged.
The ward has stopped admitting new patients. 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 in the ward:
1. Encourage patients to perform hand hygiene;
2. Enhance staff awareness of hand hygiene;
3. Apply stringent contact precautions, including dedicated use of clinical items to VRE carriers; and
4. Enhance environmental and equipment disinfection.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Thursday, August 20, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:39
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