**********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following update today (May 3) regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) carriers in a medical ward:
Two more male patients (aged 76 and 81) who were earlier considered as suspected cases and put under isolation, are confirmed as carriers of NDM Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The CRE of one patient also produce OXA carbapenemase. Both of them do not have clinical symptoms. They are now being hospitalised in QEH and Kowloon Hospital, under medical surveillance and in stable condition. Contact tracing is in progress and further cases could be identified subsequently.
The QEH will continue the enhanced infection control measures and 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/Saturday, May 3, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:16
NNNN