The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (January 15):
 
     A 77-year-old female patient in a Medicine and Geriatrics ward of TMH was confirmed as being a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on January 11. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Nine more female patients (aged 46 to 89) were confirmed as being VRE carriers without any symptoms of infection. Two of them had been discharged earlier. Among the seven patients who are still hospitalised under isolation, three of them are in critical condition due to their underlying illnesses, while the other four are in stable condition.
 
     The Medicine and Geriatrics ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
 

1. Application of enhanced hand hygiene and stringent contact precautions;
2. Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures; and
3. Enhanced disinfection and cleaning 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, January 15, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:25

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