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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for New Territories West Cluster made the following announcement today (January 28):
A 59-year-old female patient in a Medicine and Geriatrics convalescence ward of Pok Oi Hospital was confirmed as having Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on January 25. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Three more female patients (aged 78 to 86) were confirmed as having VRE without clinical symptoms. One of the patients had been discharged, and the other three are hospitalised under isolation with stable condition.
The Medicine and Geriatrics convalescence ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
1. Enhanced hand hygiene and stringent contact precautions have been applied;
2. Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures; and
3. Enhanced disinfection and cleaning of the ward concerned.
In addition, Tuen Mun Hospital earlier announced a cluster of patients with VRE in a male Medicine and Geriatrics Rehabilitation ward. The hospital has performed contact tracing in accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines and today confirmed that one more 79-year-old patient had VRE. The patient had passed away due to his underlying illness.
The two hospitals will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situations of the wards. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Thursday, January 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:28
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