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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital (OLMH) made the following announcement today (November 6):
A 82 year-old female patient of a medical ward in OLMH was confirmed urinary tract infection of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci(VRE) on October 29. To act in accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has isolated the patients who have stayed in the same cubicle with the index patients and performed screening tests for them. Today two more female patients (aged 85 and 88) were identified as VRE carriers. These patients are now treated under isolation. Amongst these three patients, the conditions of two patients are serious owing to their own underlying diseases.
The hospital has stepped up the infection control measures according to existing procedures. Follow-up screenings for a total of 30 patients have been arranged and the results are pending. There are clinical guidelines in public hospitals to ensure proper use of antibiotics, including Vancomycin, and management of VRE carriers.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow up.
Ends/Saturday, November 6, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:50
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