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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) made the following announcement today (May 2):
An 82-year-old male patient in a male surgical ward of PYNEH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on April 22. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient and confirmed five more patients (aged 62 to 84) to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. All patients are still hospitalised under isolation and medical surveillance and are in stable condition.
The Infection Control Team, the departments concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection have decided to adopt the following enhanced infection control measures:
1. Strongly encourage patients to perform hand hygiene;
2. Enhance hand hygiene of staff;
3. Apply stringent contact precautions, including dedicated use of clinical items for VRE carriers; and
4. Enhance environmental and equipment decontamination.
The Infection Control Team will continue to implement the enhanced infection control measures and to closely monitor the situation in the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Friday, May 2, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:45
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