Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Tuen Mun Hospital
**********************************************************

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (January 25):

     A 52-year-old male patient in a Medicine and Geriatrics rehabilitation ward of TMH was confirmed to have Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on January 22. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Three more male patients (aged 63 to 89) were confirmed to have VRE without clinical symptoms. Four patients are hospitalised under isolation with stable condition.

     The Medicine and Geriatrics rehabilitation 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/Monday, January 25, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:25

NNNN