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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
A Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) spokesperson made the following announcement today (March 4):
A 77-year-old male orthopaedic patient was confirmed as a carrier of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on February 27. The hospital has acted according to the prevailing infection control guideline, and quarantined the patients who have stayed in the same cubicle with the index case, and also performed screening tests for these patients. After the screening exercise, we have identified four male patients (aged 77 to 79) as VRE carriers, including the index case.
The four patients were placed under isolation and their conditions are stable and there are no signs of infection due to VRE. The hospital has informed patients’ relatives about the situation. The hospital has stepped up the infection control measures according to the existing procedure. Follow-up screening for further patients has been arranged and the results are pending. There are clinical guidelines in all public hospitals to ensure proper use of antibiotics, including Vancomycin, and there is also guideline on the management of VRE carriers.
The clustering of VRE carriers in TMH has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow up.
Ends/Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 21:32
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