Regular BUZZ reader Z* has alerted us to cases of VRE- Enterococcus faecalis at Tseung Kwan O Hospital. Her father was one of the victims and she wishes Sai Kung residents to know what’s going on. We print her letter to us below, followed by one of the press releases from HA on the subject.
Hello, I write to you as a concerned member of the public , and would like to request that you inform the Sai Kung residents that TKO Hospital has had an outbreak of a potentially life threatening bacteria. VRE- Enterococcus faecalis . This can be fatal if a patient has underlying conditions. It is a bacteria found in Hospitals, passed from nurses, doctors and medical equipment.
The hospital did release two press releases regarding this last month, but the general public don’t necessarily read the government website.
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202304/26/P2023042600555.htm#:~:text=The%20spokesperson%20for%20Tseung%20Kwan,VRE)%20carrier%20on%20April%2014
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202304/29/P2023042900545.htmMy father was admitted in March, contracted it. He had underlying ailments, but it was this bacteria which compounded his situation, causing him sepsis and septicaemia.
I have just had his funeral Monday and Tuesday, so am still mourning.
I just thought the neighbourhood should know that there is an ongoing issue at TKO hospital.
Kindly
Z
And here is one of the press releases that she referred to:
From Hospital Authority Tseung Kwan O Hospital (Press Release) Wednesday, 26 April 2023 Attention News Editors:
A 94-year old patient in a male medical ward of TKOH was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on 14 April. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has conducted contact tracing investigation. Three more patient were confirmed to be VRE carriers on 20 April. The hospital then conducted further screening in the same ward. Thirteen more patients were also confirmed to be VRE carriers. All patients were asymptomatic. Among the seventeen patients (aged 42 to 94) concerned, two patients passed away due to their underlying illness, three patients have been transferred to other hospitals, four other patients have been discharged and the remaining eight patients are now being treated under isolation with stable condition.
The ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures:
- Enhanced hand hygiene of patients and staff and stringent contact precautions;
- Enhanced attention to contamination-prone procedures; and
- Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward environment concerned.
The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward concerned. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for necessary follow up.
*Z’s full name redacted to preserve anonymity
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