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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) made the following announcement today (October 14) :
A 84-year-old female patient of a medical ward in CMC was confirmed of urinary tract infection of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci(VRE) on October 9. To act in accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has quarantined the patients who have stayed in the same cubicle with the index patients and performed screening tests for them. Subsequently, three more female patients (aged 85 to 89) were identified as VRE carriers. One of the carriers died from her underlying illness on October 12. The three in-patients are now placed under isolation and their conditions are stable.
The hospital has stepped up the infection control measures according to existing procedures. Follow-up screenings for a total of 31 patients who have been under close monitoring have been arranged and the results are pending. There are clinical guidelines in public hospitals to ensure proper use of antibiotics, including Vancomycin, and management of VRE carriers.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow up.
Ends/Thursday, October 14, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:15
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