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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the confirmation earlier that there were in-patients in an extended-care ward found to be Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carriers, the spokesperson of Kowloon Hospital made the following update today (November 1):
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, screening of contacts, including those VRE carriers who had been transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), has been performed. One 77-year-old male patient in the QEH Orthopaedics ward was confirmed today as a VRE carrier, without clinical symptoms, during this contact tracing. The patient was admitted to QEH on October 24. He is staying in an isolation ward for further treatment and is in stable condition.
The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation.
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.
Ends/Thursday, November 1, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:12
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