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[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]
Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
22 September 2011
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (September 22):
Two neurosurgical patients, namely a 30-year-old female with brain abscess and a 74-year-old female with brain tumour, admitted to QEH were confirmed to be Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carriers on September 16 and 19 respectively.
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who stayed in the same cubicle with the index patient in the same period and found three female inpatients (aged 34 to 86) to be VRE carriers.
All five patients are in stable condition and under medical surveillance and isolation.
There are clinical guidelines in public hospitals to ensure proper use of antibiotics, including Vancomycin, and management of VRE carriers. The hospital has stepped up the infection control measures according to established guidelines.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
Re: Hong Kong, Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (September 22 2011)
[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]
Update on Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
25 September 2011
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the announcement earlier on the neurosurgical department in which there were patients found to have Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE), the spokesperson of Queen Elizabeth Hospital made the following update today (September 25):
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, one more female patient, aged 49, is found to have VRE through contact tracing.
This patient is in stable condition and under isolation.
There are existing clinical guidelines in public hospitals to guide the appropriate use of antibiotics (including Vancomycin) and on the management of VRE carriers.
The hospital has stepped up infection control measures and the situation will be closely observed. The laboratory screening continues to be in progress.
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
Re: Hong Kong, Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (September 22 2011)
[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]
Update on cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
26 September 2011
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the announcement earlier that some patients of the neurosurgical department had been found to be carriers of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE), the spokesperson of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following update today (September 26):
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, 16 more patients (nine male and seven female, aged 46 to 90) were found to be carriers of VRE through contact tracing, but all were without clinical symptoms.
Among them, 12 and three have been hospitalised at QEH and Kowloon Hospital respectively. They are in stable condition and under isolation. The remaining patient has been discharged.
The hospital has isolated the patients concerned and has reinforced contact precautions since September 22.
The hospital will continue the stepped-up infection control measures and the situation will be closely observed. The laboratory screening for patients continues to be in progress.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
Re: Hong Kong, Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (September 22 2011)
[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]
Update on cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
27 September 2011
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding the announcement earlier on some patients of the neurosurgical department found to be the carrier of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE), the spokesperson of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following update today (September 27):
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, four more male patients (aged 46 to 84) are found to be carriers of VRE through contact tracing, but all without clinical symptoms.
Among them, two are still hospitalised in QEH, they are in stable condition and under isolation. The other two patients died of their own underlying illnesses which are unrelated to VRE. The laboratory screening for other related patients continues to be in progress.
The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
The hospital has a follow-up meeting with experts on infection control today and has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
All VRE carriers are being isolated in rooms or cohorted in the same cubicle;
Visiting is limited to two people each day, and they have to observe hand hygiene and put on gloves and gown;
Discharge to old age home is not allowed until clearance of VRE carriage;
A separate team of nursing staff for the care of VRE carriers and non-carriers;
Strict adherence to contact precautions on VRE cases and the use of a dedicated set of non-critical equipments;
Environmental cleaning, especially on frequent touch areas, has been stepped up;
Disinfection of equipment by hydrogen peroxide vapour;
Strict adherence to hand hygiene would be enforced to minimise cross transmission;
Patient use items, e.g. linen, etc., would be changed on a daily basis; and
Staff have been reminded to pay special attention to procedures that carry a higher risk of cross transmission, e.g. napkin care, catheter care and wound care.
Re: Hong Kong, Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (September 22 2011)
[Source: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]
Update on cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
28 September 2011
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
Regarding an earlier announcement on some patients of neurosurgical department found to be carriers of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE), the spokesperson of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following update today (September 28):
In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, one more 83-year old female patient is found to be carrier of VRE through contact tracing, but without clinical symptoms.
The patient has passed away due to acute subarachnoid haemorrhage which is unrelated to VRE.
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.
QEH held a follow-up meeting with experts in infection control today and decided to introduce some new measures in addition to the existing infection control measures:
The hospital decided to open an isolation ward to isolate all the VRE carriers.
The cubicles concerned and all patient care equipments would be disinfected by hydrogen peroxide vapor.
Elective neurosurgical cases would be reduced, for better implementation of enhanced infection control measures.
Admission of new cases to neurosurgical wards would be confined to designated cubicles.
