The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority.
The spokesman for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) made the following announcement today (February 9):
An 89-year-old male patient in a medical ward of PYNEH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on January 28. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital commenced contact tracing. Four more male patients (aged 82 to 91) were confirmed to be VRE carriers but without clinical symptoms. Among the patients, two patients have been transferred to Tung Wah Eastern Hospital (TWEH) and the other three patients are being treated under isolation in the hospital and are in stable condition.
Following the activation of the Emergency Response Level in public hospitals, visiting arrangements have been suspended. The following enhanced infection control measures have been stepped up at the ward concerned according to established guidelines:
1. Enhanced hand hygiene and stringent contact precautions;
2. Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures;
3. Enhanced disinfection and cleaning of the concerned ward; and
4. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures.
PYNEH 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.
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