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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital made the following announcement today (January 14):
Six patients (five female and one male, aged 71 to 100) of a medical ward have been confirmed to be carriers of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae but without clinical symptoms since January 7. One patient had already been discharged. The remaining five patients are in stable condition and being treated under isolation in Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The Infection Control Team of the hospital and Kowloon Central Cluster and experts of the Centre for Health Protection have reviewed the cases and decided to adopt the following enhanced infection control measures:
1. Applying stringent contact precautions;
2. Enhancing environmental cleaning and decontamination;
3. Arranging hydrogen peroxide vapour fumigation for equipment; and
4. Enhancing hand hygiene of staff.
Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward concerned are under close surveillance. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Thursday, January 14, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:05
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