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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for North District Hospital gave the following update today (January 21) regarding an earlier announcement on confirmation of medical and surgical patients as carriers of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE):
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, contact tracing has been performed. Five more male patients (aged 68 to 87) of the medical ward have been confirmed to be VRE carriers, all without clinical symptoms. Two of them are still hospitalised under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition, while the remaining three have been discharged. In addition, three more male patients (aged 56 to 77) from the surgical ward have been confirmed to be VRE carriers, all without clinical symptoms and all still hospitalised under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition.
The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:21
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