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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following announcement today (August 27):
A 79-year-old male patient in a medical ward was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on August 17. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Ten male patients (aged 42 to 90) have been confirmed to be VRE carriers, all without clinical symptoms. Among the eleven cases, eight of the patients are still hospitalised under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition. The remaining three patients have been discharged.
Admission to the concerned ward has been suspended, and the following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:
1. All VRE carriers are under medical surveillance and isolation
2. Applied stringent contact precautions, including dedicated use of clinical items to VRE carriers
3. Enhanced hand hygiene
4. Focused more closely on contamination-prone procedures
5. Enhanced disinfection and cleansing of the ward concerned
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward.
Ends/Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:50
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