Hong Kong, Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Kwong Wah Hospital (March 15 2013)

[Giuseppe]

[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Kwong Wah Hospital


The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following announcement today (March 15):

A 71-year-old male patient in a medicine ward of KWH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on March 6.

In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient.

A 83-year-old male patient has been confirmed to be a VRE carrier without clinical symptoms.

One of the patients is now under medical surveillance and isolation, and is in stable condition. The other patient has been discharged.

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

The Hospital Infection Control Team, the department concerned and experts of the CHP held a meeting this afternoon and the following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:

1. Disinfection and cleansing of the ward concerned have been enhanced;
2. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items to VRE carriers, enhanced hand hygiene;
3. All VRE carriers are under medical surveillance in isolation rooms;
4. Restricted visiting to the ward concerned is imposed.

The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward.


Ends/Friday, March 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:30
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong, Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Kwong Wah Hospital (March 15 2013)

[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Update on cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Kwong Wah Hospital


The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

Regarding the recent confirmation of a cluster of patients as Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carriers in a medical ward, the spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following update today (March 21):

Two more male patients (aged 52 and 84) have been confirmed as VRE carriers without clinical symptoms.

The patients are now under medical surveillance and isolation.

One of the patients is in stable condition, while the other patient is in critical condition due to his underlying illness.

The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:

1. Disinfection and cleansing of the ward concerned have been enhanced;
2. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items for the VRE carriers and enhanced hand hygiene;
3. All VRE carriers are under medical surveillance in isolation rooms; and
4. Restricted visiting to the ward concerned is imposed.

The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.


Ends/Thursday, March 21, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:34
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong, Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Kwong Wah Hospital (March 15 2013)

[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Update on cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Kwong Wah Hospital


The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

Regarding the recent confirmation of a cluster of patients as Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carriers in a medicine ward, the spokesperson for Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) made the following update today (March 23):

One more 51-year-old male patient has been confirmed as VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. The patient is now under medical surveillance and isolation. He is in serious condition due to his underlying illness.

The following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:

1. Disinfection and cleansing of the ward concerned have been enhanced;
2. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items for the VRE carriers and enhanced hand hygiene ;
3. All VRE carriers are under medical surveillance in isolation rooms; and
4. Restricted visiting to the ward concerned is imposed.

The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.


Ends/Saturday, March 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:04
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[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong, Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Kwong Wah Hospital (March 15 2013)

[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Clusters of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Kowloon Central Cluster


The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC) made the following announcement today (March 28):

An 80-year-old male patient of a medical ward in Queen Elizabeth Hospital was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on March 20.

In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient.

A total of 12 more male patients (aged 50 to 84) who had stayed in the same ward were confirmed to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms.

Eleven patients are under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition. The remaining patient has been discharged.

Moreover, a 73-year-old male patient admitted to an extended care ward of Kowloon Hospital was confirmed to be a VRE carrier on March 13.

In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient.

A total of 11 more male patients (aged 65 to 92) who had stayed in the same ward were confirmed to be VRE carriers without clinical symptoms. All the patients are under medical surveillance and isolation with stable condition.

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

The KCC Infection Control Team, the departments concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection have met and decided to adopt the following enhanced infection control measures:

1. A central cleansing team has provided enhanced environmental cleansing for patients carrying multiple-drug resistant organisms;
2. Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor disinfection for commonly used equipment is to be arranged;
3. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items to VRE carriers and enhanced hand hygiene;
4. All VRE carriers are being treated in isolation rooms or cohorts according to their clinical symptoms and treatment needs; and
5. Visiting is limited to two people per patient during each visiting period.

The KCC Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation of the wards.


Ends/Thursday, March 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:19
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