Update on cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases in Princess Margaret Hospital

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     â€‹Regarding an earlier announcement on Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier cases, the spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital gave the following update today (December 28):

     Following a contact tracing investigation, one more patient, a 78-year-old male in the orthopaedic ward, was identified as a carrier of VRE while not having signs of infection. The patient is now being treated in isolation and is 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 ward concerned.

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