Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Kowloon Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     â€‹The spokesperson for the Kowloon Hospital (KH) made the following announcement today (July 29):

     An 88-year-old male patient in an extended care ward of KH was confirmed to be infected with Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) on July 23. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital commenced a contact tracing investigation. Three more male patients (aged 75 to 99) from the same ward were confirmed to be VRE carriers and asymptomatic. One patient is currently hospitalised at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for other medical needs and one patient was discharged. The remaining two patients are being treated in isolation at the hospital and are in stable condition.

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

1. enhanced hand hygiene and stringent contact precautions;
2. enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures; and
3. enhanced disinfection and cleaning of the concerned ward.

     The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and 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.