Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Kowloon Hospital
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (April 3):
 
     A 91-year-old female patient of a Rehabilitation ward of KH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on April 1. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Five female patients (aged 63 to 95) who had stayed in the same ward were confirmed to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. All the patients are under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition.
 
     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:
 
  1. Enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients;
  2. Application of stringent contact precautions, including dedicated use of clinical items to VRE carriers; and
  3. Enhanced environmental and equipment decontamination.
     
     The Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

Ends/Monday, April 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:56

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