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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) made the following announcement today (August 16):
A 74-year-old male patient admitted to a medical ward in CMC with pneumonia and acute renal failure was confirmed to be suffering from Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) urinary tract infection on August 14. The patient passed away this morning due to his underlying disease. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who stayed in the same cubicle with the index patient in the same period and found two male inpatients (aged 74 and 76) to be VRE carriers. They are under medical surveillance and isolation.
There are clinical guidelines in public hospitals to ensure proper use of antibiotics, including Vancomycin and management of VRE carriers. The hospital has stepped up the infection control measures according to established guidelines.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
Ends/Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:15
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