The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (April 25):

     An 83-year-old male patient in a Medicine and Geriatrics ward of TMH was confirmed as a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on April 18. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Two more male patients (aged 87 and 95) were confirmed to be VRE carriers. All three patients had no clinical symptoms. Among the three cases, one patient passed away earlier due to his underlying illness, while the other two are still hospitalised under isolation and are in serious condition.

     The concerned ward has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
 

1. Enhanced hand hygiene and stringent contact precautions have been applied;
2. Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures; and
3. Enhanced disinfection and cleansing of the concerned ward.

 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

Ends/Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:40

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